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- Glossary
Classical conditioning
According to Zimbardo's definition (1999), classical conditioning is a form of learning in which one stimulus or event predicts the occurrence of another stimulus or event. The organism learns a new association between two stimuli – between a stimulus that did not previously trigger the response and another stimulus that triggers the response according to the laws of nature. The best-known example is Pavlov's dog, which salivated when a bell rang.
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- Glossary
Cerebellar hemispheres
Like the cerebrum, the cerebellum also has two hemispheres. The hemispheres are primarily responsible for finely tuned, purposeful movement control.
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- Glossary
Cerebellar nuclei
A group of four paired nuclei located in the white matter of the cerebellum: the dentate nucleus, emboliform nucleus, globose nucleus, and fastigial nucleus. Functionally, the cerebellar nuclei are associated with motor tasks.
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- Glossary
Cerebellar peduncles
Three fiber connections on the right and left sides that connect the cerebellum to the brain stem. All afferent and efferent fibers of the cerebellum run through these connections.
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- Glossary
Climbing fiber
Climbing fibers are the axons (long fiber-like extensions of nerve cells) of neurons in the inferior olive nucleus of the brain stem. They extend into the cerebellum and "climb" along the Purkinje cells, with which they form synaptic connections.
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- Glossary
Collaterals
Collaterals are the side branches or secondary branches of blood vessels and axons.
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- Glossary
Commissure
A commissure is a fiber connection between two anatomical areas, primarily from one hemisphere to the other. The largest commissure in the human brain is the corpus callosum.
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- Glossary
Corpus callosotomy
A surgical procedure in which the corpus callosum, the bridge between the two hemispheres of the brain, is severed. This interrupts the flow of information between the two hemispheres. Commissurectomy was previously performed mainly for the purpose of controlling epileptic seizures.
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- Glossary
Complementary colors
A term from color theory: Complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when mixed, produce white or neutral gray. They are always opposite each other on the color wheel. Different pairings are named depending on the color model.
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- Glossary
Complex cell
A nerve cell in the primary visual cortex with large receptive fields. They respond to visual stimuli with appropriate contrast, a specific orientation, and often also a specific direction of movement.
