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- Glossary
Premotor cortex
Part of the motor cortex in the frontal lobe. It is connected to the primary motor cortex and numerous other brain regions and is involved in the planning, preparation, and coordination of complex, voluntary movements. Examples of its functions include reaching for an object or the sequence of movements involved in targeted actions.
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Primary auditory cortex
The first processing station in the cerebral cortex for auditory information. The primary auditory cortex is located in the Heschl's gyrus and receives inputs from the medial geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. It is organized tonotopically – its neurons are arranged continuously according to frequency.
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Primary gustatory cortex
Term for the areas of the insular cortex where information from the taste receptors is processed. Further processing takes place in the secondary gustatory cortex in the orbitofrontal cortex.
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- Glossary
Primary motor cortex
An area of the frontal lobe in the anterior wall of the central sulcus. It is considered to be the higher-level control unit responsible for voluntary and fine motor skills. This is where the cell bodies of the central motor neurons are located, whose axons primarily extend to the spinal cord (via the corticospinal tract). Only in the primary motor cortex do Betz giant cells occur, which are particularly large motor neurons whose axons extend directly to the motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord without prior synaptic switching.
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Primary somatosensory cortex
Area of the cerebrum where haptic stimuli are processed centrally. Anatomically, the somatosensory cortex is located on the first cerebral gyri behind the central sulcus. This is where afferents from sensory cells throughout the body converge. Neurons that evaluate information from neighboring areas of the body are also located next to each other in the somatosensory cortex. Neuroscientists refer to this as somatotopy.S1 is an important station in pain processing – this is where we become aware of the pain stimulus.
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Primary visual cortex
The part of the occipital lobe whose primary inputs originate from the visual system. According to Brodmann, who originally divided the cerebral cortex into 52 areas in 1909, the primary visual cortex is area 17.
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Priming
Priming refers to the influence of previous experiences on perception, reactions, or memory content. This often involves presenting a stimulus (e.g., a word, image, or symbol), often unconsciously or below the threshold of perception. Although the person is not consciously aware of this stimulus, it affects the processing of subsequent stimuli: for example, reactions become faster or memory content is retrieved more easily.
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Projection neuron
A neuron that transmits information via its axon (long fiber-like extension of nerve cells) from one area to another, distant area, projects.
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- Glossary
Propranolol
A medication for high blood pressure – a beta blocker. Beta blockers prevent the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline.
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- Glossary
Proprioception
Proprioception is the sense of oneself, or more precisely, the position of one's own limbs and the location of the body in space. It is made possible by certain receptors in muscles, joints, and tendons that constantly send information to the brain. Visual signals and those from the vestibular system are also processed. This enables coordination, balance, and targeted movements without constant visual control.
