synapses
Nerve cell connections
Synapses is the plural of synapse, the junction where nerve cells communicate.
Electrical or chemical signals cross the tiny gap between neurons, allowing information to flow through the nervous system.
The word appears in both neuroscience and figurative contexts: The synapses weren't firing that early in the morning.
New synapses form as we learn.
Chemical neural messengers
- action potentialNeuron's rapid electrical discharge
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
acetylcholine · GABA · norepinephrine · excitatory · inhibitory · reuptake · firing · threshold
Signal-transmitting brain cells
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- myelin sheathLipid layer around axons
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
Brain's self-rewiring ability
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- pruningCutting vegetation for health
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
rewiring · flexibility · development · formation · elimination · modification
Study of nervous systems
- neurobiologyStudy of nervous system
- electrophysiologyBiology's electrical activity science
- neuroimagingVisualizing nervous system structure
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
neurotransmitters
Chemical neural messengers
- action potentialNeuron's rapid electrical discharge
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
glutamate · acetylcholine · GABA · norepinephrine · excitatory · inhibitory · reuptake · firing · threshold
neurons
Signal-transmitting brain cells
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- myelin sheathLipid layer around axons
neuroplasticity
Brain's self-rewiring ability
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- pruningCutting vegetation for health
adaptation · rewiring · flexibility · development · formation · elimination · modification
neuroscience
Study of nervous systems
- neurobiologyStudy of nervous system
- electrophysiologyBiology's electrical activity science
- neuroimagingVisualizing nervous system structure
- neurodevelopmentneural tube, neurogenesis, neuroblast, neuroblasts, neural tube defects
- brain researchfMRI, EEG, neurons, brain imaging, brain scans
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- brain anatomybrain, cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, cortex
- brain sciencebrain scan, brain research, brain map, brain imaging, brain chemistry
- nervous systembrain, neurons, nerves, spinal cord, axon
synapsesaxons
Neuron output extensions
nerve fibers · dendrites · neural pathways · white matter · neurons