neural circuitry

Neural circuitry refers to the networks of interconnected nerve cells in the brain and nervous system that process information and generate behavior.

The term borrows from electronics—neurons wired together like components on a circuit board.

Scientists study neural circuitry to understand how the brain produces thought, memory, and movement: Researchers mapped the neural circuitry underlying fear responses.

The phrase often appears in discussions of how experience reshapes the brain: Meditation may alter neural circuitry associated with stress.