Search
-
- Glossary
Efference
An axon (long, fiber-like extension of nerve cells) that conducts signals away from the central nervous system to peripheral areas, as is the case with motor function, for example, is called efferent. The opposite is afferent.
-
- Glossary
Eidetic memory
The term eidetic memory refers to the phenomenon of near-perfect visual memory. The term "photographic" memory is also sometimes used. The phenomenon is very rare, but has not been clearly defined scientifically.
-
- Glossary
Simple cell
An orientation-sensitive cell in the primary visual cortex (part of the cerebral cortex) whose receptive field is divided into ON and OFF subfields. For example, it reacts strongly to lines of a certain orientation.
-
- Glossary
Protein synthesis
The process by which cells translate units of information on DNA into functional carriers in the form of proteins. According to the central dogma of molecular biology, this process consists of two phases: During transcription, a section of genetic material is transcribed into mRNA. This tells the cell the sequence in which it should assemble individual amino acids into a protein. This happens during translation. After translation, some proteins still need to be folded or modified in other ways before they can be used as structural proteins or enzymes.
-
- Glossary
Electroconvulsive therapy
A therapeutic procedure with temporary positive effects, used primarily for severe or treatment-resistant depression and catatonia. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) – colloquially referred to as "electroshock therapy" – was developed in the 1930s. Under controlled conditions, electrical stimulation triggers a brief epileptic seizure, which causes neurobiological changes. It is performed exclusively under general anesthesia and muscle relaxation.
-
- Glossary
Electrooculogram
The electrooculogram is a recording of the electrical potential of the eyes. It is measured by electrodes placed on the skin around the eye. A method for measuring retinal function and, indirectly, eye movement.
-
- Glossary
Embodied cognition
A term from cognitive science that describes how physical states affect the mind. Embodied cognition can be translated as "physically anchored cognition" or "embodied thinking." The mind, body, and environment are understood as parts of a dynamic system in which cognitive processes occur as complex interactions between the components. For example, gesturing can support mathematical abilities.
-
- Glossary
Emotions
Neuroscientists understand "emotions" to be complex response patterns that include experiential, physiological, and behavioral components. They arise in response to personally relevant or significant events and generate a willingness to act, through which the individual attempts to deal with the situation. Emotions typically occur with subjective experience (feeling), but differ from pure feeling in that they involve conscious or implicit engagement with the environment. Emotions arise in the limbic system, among other places, which is a phylogenetically ancient part of the brain. Psychologist Paul Ekman has defined six cross-cultural basic emotions that are reflected in characteristic facial expressions: joy, anger, fear, surprise, sadness, and disgust.
-
- Glossary
Theory of emotions
Emotions still pose many questions for researchers today: Are there primary and secondary emotions? Are there universal emotions? Are there connections between individual emotions? Different theories of emotion seek answers to questions like these.
-
- Glossary
Empathy
The term "empathy" comes from the ancient Greek word for "passion." Today, empathy is understood as the ability to put oneself in another person's shoes and understand their feelings, thoughts, and actions. In neuroscience, empathy is supported by mirror neurons, among other things: nerve cells that show similar activity when observing an action as when performing it.
