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- Glossary
Calcarine sulcus
Cerebral sulcus that divides the median, inwardly located portion of the occipital lobe.
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- Glossary
Superior temporal sulcus
The superior temporal sulcus is the uppermost groove of the temporal lobe and lies below the Sylvian fissure. It separates the superior temporal gyrus from the middle temporal gyrus. Functionally, this area is involved in auditory processes, language processing, and the perception of socially relevant information.
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- Glossary
Supplementary motor area
Area of the association motor cortex in the frontal lobe that is involved in movement planning and the organization of movement sequences.
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- Glossary
Sympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic nervous system, whereby the sympathetic nervous system primarily transmits excitatory impulses – in contrast to its counterpart, the parasympathetic nervous system. For example, the sympathetic nervous system activates respiration, the heart, and circulation, but it also affects the smooth muscles of all internal organs. The sympathetic nervous system uses the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine.
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- Glossary
Synapse
A synapse is a connection between two neurons and serves as a means of communication between them. It consists of a presynaptic region – the terminal button of the sender neuron – and a postsynaptic region – the region of the receiver neuron with its receptors. Between them lies the synaptic cleft.
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- Glossary
Synaptic depression
Weakening of signal transmission at a synapse due to reduced neurotransmitter release or decreased receptor sensitivity; occurs, for example, with repeated stimulation (habituation).
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- Glossary
Synesthesia
Synesthesia is the linking of two or more sensory perceptions to form a subjective sensation. For example, a synesthete might always associate the number seven with the color red. Synesthesia appears to have a hereditary component, but it can also be caused by illness (e.g., schizophrenia) or drugs (e.g., hallucinogens).
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- Glossary
Tau protein
Tau proteins are particularly prevalent in the central nervous system. Their function is to stabilize microtubules – the structures that give cells their shape and support. Under certain circumstances, enzymes attach too many phosphate groups to tau proteins. As a result, the proteins are no longer broken down properly and form toxic aggregates within the neurons. Alongside senile plaques, aggregated tau proteins are considered a classic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
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- Glossary
Tegmentum
Tegmentum (from the Latin "tegere," meaning "to cover"). This is the ventral part of the midbrain located beneath the aqueduct. It contains nuclei such as the substantia nigra, the reticular formation, the cranial nerve nuclei, and the red nucleus.
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- Glossary
Tectorial membrane
The tectorial membrane is a gelatinous layer into which the cilia of the outer hair cells protrude. The shear movements caused by sound between the basilar membrane and the tectorial membrane are registered by the cilia.
