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- Glossary
Body schema
The body schema is the dynamic representation of one's own body, which is based on proprioceptive, visual, and tactile information, but goes beyond it. Disorders such as phantom limb sensations after amputations show that the body schema can exist independently of current sensory inputs.
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- Glossary
cranial
A positional term – cranial means "towards the head." In relation to the nervous system, it refers to a direction along the neural axis, i.e., forward. In animals (without upright gait), the designation is simpler, as it always means forward. Due to the upright gait of humans, the brain bends in relation to the spinal cord, where cranial also means "upward."
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- Glossary
Short-term memory
Short-term memory is a type of temporary storage in the brain where information can be retained for a few seconds to a few minutes. Its capacity is very limited, at 7±2 units of information (chunks). These can be numbers, letters, or words, for example. Today, this memory is usually considered within the framework of the working memory model, which also emphasizes the active processing of content.
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Long-term memory
Long-term memory stores information about events, facts, or skills over long periods of time, often for a lifetime. Different types of memory are stored in different areas of the brain. The cellular basis for these learning processes is based, among other things, on improved communication between two cells and is called long-term potentiation.
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- Glossary
Long-term potentiation
Long-term potentiation is a central mechanism for learning and memory formation. It is based on improved communication between two cells, referred to as strengthening the connection. This strengthening can occur, for example, through an enlargement of the connection point, the installation of new channels, or an increased release of transmitters (messenger substances).
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- Glossary
Lesion
A lesion is damage to organic tissue.
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- Glossary
lateral
A positional term – lateral means "towards the side." In relation to the nervous system, it refers to a direction at right angles to the neural axis, i.e., to the right or left.
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- Glossary
Lateral inhibition
Lateral inhibition is a principle of neural stimulus processing, according to which the retina, among other things, is structured. There, the nerve cells of an area are interconnected in such a way that when they are excited, they inhibit the activity of the surrounding neurons.
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- Glossary
Lewy body dementia
A neurodegenerative disease that resembles Alzheimer's disease, but also Parkinson's disease in its symptoms. The Lewy bodies that give the disease its name are caused by protein deposits in the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex and brain stem, which impair the function of the corresponding neurons. In addition to cognitive impairment, Lewy body dementia often causes hallucinations or depression, as well as changes in mobility similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease.
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- Glossary
Limbic cortex
The limbic cortex primarily comprises the cingulate gyrus and adjacent structures such as the entorhinal cortex. It is part of the limbic system, which also includes regions such as the hippocampus and the amygdala. The limbic system plays a central role in processing emotions, motivation, and instinctive behavior.
