neuron
Brain's signal carrier
A neuron is a nerve cell—the basic unit of the nervous system that transmits electrical and chemical signals.
Neurons receive input through branching dendrites, process it in the cell body, and send output along a fiber called an axon.
The brain contains roughly 86 billion neurons.
In machine learning, artificial neurons are computational units modeled loosely on biological ones.
Bodily cells, excluding gametes
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- cell bodyNeuron's central mass
- myelin sheathLipid layer around axons
node of Ranvier · microtubule · cytoskeleton · nucleus · membrane · cytoplasm · mitochondria · organelle
Neuron's rapid electrical discharge
- firingTerminating employment
- spikeSharp rise or point
- impulseSudden urge to act
- depolarizationLoss of electrical gradient
repolarization · threshold · refractory period · excitation · inhibition · propagation · sodium channel · calcium influx
Organ's external tissue
- hippocampusMemory formation region
- amygdalaEmotion-processing brain cluster
- cerebellumMovement coordination organ
- neocortexHigher cognition brain region
brainstem · frontal lobe · temporal lobe · parietal lobe · occipital lobe · grey matter · white matter · gyrus
Nerve signal crossing point
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- presynapticBefore the neural junction
- plasticityAbility to change shape
- potentiationIncreased effect through interaction
depression · summation · integration · spine · bouton
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
norepinephrine · epinephrine · endorphin · histamine · substance P · neuropeptide · dopaminergic · serotonergic
Visualizing nervous system structure
- electrophysiologyBiology's electrical activity science
- neuroanatomyStudy of nervous system structure
- neurophysiologyStudy of neural function
- brain mappingCharting neural structures
Non-neuronal brain cells
- astrocyteStar-shaped neural support cell
- microgliaCNS immune cells
- neurogliaSupportive nervous system cells
- myelinationFatty nerve coating
Progressive loss of neurons
- Alzheimer'sDegenerative brain disease
- Parkinson'sNeurodegenerative motor disorder
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- ALSMotor neuron disease
Huntington's · multiple sclerosis · atrophy · plaque · tangle · tau · amyloid · prion
Nerve cell connecting others
- bipolarHaving two opposite poles
- unipolarHaving one pole only
- multipolarHaving numerous poles
- grid cellIntersection of row and column
soma
Bodily cells, excluding gametes
myelin sheath · node of Ranvier · microtubule · cytoskeleton · nucleus · membrane · cytoplasm · mitochondria · organelle · endoplasmic reticulum
action potential
Neuron's rapid electrical discharge
depolarization · repolarization · threshold · refractory period · excitation · inhibition · propagation · sodium channel · calcium influx · oscillation
cortex
Organ's external tissue
- hippocampusMemory formation region
- amygdalaEmotion-processing brain cluster
- cerebellumMovement coordination organ
neocortex · brainstem · frontal lobe · temporal lobe · parietal lobe · occipital lobe · grey matter · white matter · gyrus · sulcus
synapse
Nerve signal crossing point
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- presynapticBefore the neural junction
- plasticityAbility to change shape
potentiation · depression · summation · integration · spine · bouton
dopamine
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
GABA · norepinephrine · epinephrine · endorphin · histamine · substance P · neuropeptide · dopaminergic · serotonergic · cholinergic
neuroimaging
Visualizing nervous system structure
- electrophysiologyBiology's electrical activity science
- neuroanatomyStudy of nervous system structure
- neurophysiologyStudy of neural function
glia
Non-neuronal brain cells
neurodegeneration
Progressive loss of neurons
- Alzheimer'sDegenerative brain disease
- Parkinson'sNeurodegenerative motor disorder
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
ALS · Huntington's · multiple sclerosis · atrophy · plaque · tangle · tau · amyloid · prion · apoptosis
interneuron
Nerve cell connecting others
- bipolarHaving two opposite poles
- unipolarHaving one pole only
- multipolarHaving numerous poles
- cellscells, blood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell
- brain sciencebrain scan, brain research, brain map, brain imaging, brain chemistry
- cell biologycell membrane, cell division, cytoplasm, ribosome, mitochondria
- brain partscerebellum, hippocampus, brainstem, thalamus, hypothalamus
- nerve cellsnerve cell, brain cell, axon, dendrite, glia
- body partsarm, leg, hand, back, chest
neuronblood cell
Circulating microscopic body unit
red blood cell · fat cell · erythrocyte · osteocyte · hepatocyte
neurontransistor
Semiconductor signal switch
silicon chip · microprocessor · logic gate · circuit · computer chip
- neural networksLayered computational learning systems
- neurological diseasesDisorders of nervous system
- neurological conditionsDiseases of nervous system
- neurological healthNervous system wellbeing
- motor neuron diseaseDegenerative condition affecting movement-controlling cells
- neural pathwaysBrain's communication routes
neurotic, neurosis, neural, neurology, neurological, neuroscience, neurons, neuralgia, aneurysm