The Brain in Love Part 13

Anterior cingulate gyrus-runs lengthwise through the frontal lobes, brain's gear shifter, helping with cognitive flexibility.

Antioxidants-help to prevent damage from free radical formation.

Axon-usually a long process that projects from the cell body to connect with other cells.

Basal ganglia-large structures deep in the brain involved with motor movements, anxiety, and pleasure.

Central nervous system (CNS)-composed of the spinal cord and parts of the brain, brain stem, thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex.

Deep limbic system-deep structures in the brain that influence emotional responsiveness.

Dendrites-structures that branch out from the cell body and serve as the main receivers of signals from other nerve cells, functioning as the "antennae" of the neuron.

Dopamine (DA)-a neurotransmitter involved with attention, motor movements, and motivation, has been implicated in problems with Parkinson's disease, attention deficit disorder, addictions, depression, and schizophrenia.

Estrogen-a female hormone of reproduction.

fMRI-a brain scan that uses powerful magnets to look at brain blood flow and activity patterns.

Free radicals-oxygen combined with other molecules to generate highly toxic substances that must be neutralized by antioxidants, or they damage cells.

G-spot-a controversial area of the brain on the front wall of the v.a.g.i.n.a, underneath the c.l.i.toris, thought to be extremely sensitive to touch and involved in intense pleasure and o.r.g.a.s.m.

Gamma-amin.o.butyric acid (GABA)-an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved with calming brain function, has been implicated in problems with seizures, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and pain.

Ginkgo biloba-an herb from the Chinese ginkgo tree that is known to improve circulation and blood flow and has been shown to be helpful in dementia.

Glutamate-excitatory (stimulating) neurotransmitter.

Hippocampus-part of the inside of the temporal lobes that facilitates memory function.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-a brain scan that uses powerful magnets to look at the physical structure of organs.

Myelin-the whitish protein covering of neurons.

Myelination-the act of laying down myelin onto neurons.

Nerve growth factors (NGF)-one of several growth factors in the brain that promote the regeneration of nerve cells after injury.

Neurogenesis-the growth of new neurons.

Neuron-synonymous with nerve cell.

Neurotransmitter-a chemical that is released from one neuron at the pre-synaptic nerve terminal (the end of an axon), across the synapse where they may be accepted by the next neuron (on the dendrites) at specialized sites called receptors. There are many different neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Norepinephrine (NE)-a neurotransmitter involved with mood, concentration, and motivation and thought to be a.s.sociated with problems of attention, depression, and anxiety.

Occipital lobes-visual cortex in the back of the brain.

Oxytocin-a hormone involved with bonding.

Parietal lobes-top, back part of the brain involved with sensory processing, visual processing, seeing movement, and direction sense.

Positron emission tomography (PET)-a brain scan that uses isotopes to look at glucose metabolism and activity patterns in the brain.

Prefrontal cortex-front third of the brain, responsible for executive functions such as forethought and judgment.

Progesterone-a hormone of reproduction.

Serotonin (5-HT)-a neurotransmitter involved with mood, flexibility, and shifting attention, is often involved with problems of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, sleep disturbances, and pain.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-a brain scan that uses isotopes to look at blood flow and activity patterns in the brain.

Synapses-junctions formed between nerve cells where the presynaptic terminal of an axon comes into "contact" with the dendrite's postsynaptic membrane of another neuron. There are two types of synapses, electrical and chemical.

Synaptic plasticity-the ability of synapses to change to more efficiently signal other neurons.

Temporal lobes-underneath the temples and behind the eyes, large structures involved in memory, auditory processing, mood stability, and temper control.

Testosterone-a hormone of reproduction.

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