brainwave
Flash of genius
A brainwave is a fluctuation in electrical activity in the brain, measurable by electroencephalogram.
In casual British usage, a brainwave is a sudden clever idea or inspiration: I had a brainwave—we could take the back roads instead.
Americans more often say brainstorm for this sense.
Impulse-conducting cell
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- cortexOrgan's external tissue
impulse · oscillation · frequency · alpha · beta · theta · delta · gamma
Sudden profound insight
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- ahaExclamation of realization
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
flash · insight · realization · inspiration · notion · concept · thought · lightbulb
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
norepinephrine · receptor · neurotransmitter · oxytocin · endorphin · synapse · signal · chemical
Mental concept or reflection
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
comprehension · understanding · mental · mindset · recognition · memory · learning · intelligence
Faculty for forming ideas
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- originalityNovel creative quality
- inventivenessCapacity for original creation
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
genius · visionary · innovation · conceptualize · ideation · brainstorming · muse · flair
neuron
Impulse-conducting cell
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
cortex · impulse · oscillation · frequency · alpha · beta · theta · delta · gamma · EEG
epiphany
Sudden profound insight
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- ahaExclamation of realization
eureka · flash · insight · realization · inspiration · notion · concept · thought · lightbulb · spark
dopamine
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
glutamate · norepinephrine · receptor · neurotransmitter · oxytocin · endorphin · synapse · signal · chemical · release
thought
Mental concept or reflection
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
awareness · comprehension · understanding · mental · mindset · recognition · memory · learning · intelligence · discernment
imagination
Faculty for forming ideas
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- originalityNovel creative quality
- inventivenessCapacity for original creation
ingenuity · genius · visionary · innovation · conceptualize · ideation · brainstorming · muse · flair · novelty
- psionicstelepathy, telekinesis, mind control, mind reading, ESP
- inspirationinspiration, muse, affirmations, motivational quotes, inspirational quotes
- Resourcefulnessresourcefulness, ingenuity, cleverness, inventiveness, problem-solving
- waveswavelength, ripples, wavefront, surf, waveform
- neuroscienceneuron, MRI, neurons, synapses, dendrite
- aha momentseureka, epiphany, lightbulb moment, revelation, breakthrough
brainwavemental block
Inability to retrieve thoughts
brain freeze · drawing a blank · stupor · confusion · brain fog
- brainwave patternsElectrical activity in cognition