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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.
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- Glossary
Temporal lobe
The temporal lobe is one of the four lobes of the cerebrum and is located laterally (on the side) at the bottom. It contains important areas such as the auditory cortex and parts of Wernicke's area, as well as areas for higher visual processing; deep within it lies the medial temporal lobe with structures such as the hippocampus.
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- Glossary
Temporo-parietal junction
The transition between the temporal and parietal lobes – i.e., the temporal and parietal lobes – of the cerebral cortex. Here, in the posterior region of the Sylvian fissure, information from the limbic system, the thalamus, and the visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortex is integrated. Accordingly, the temporo-parietal junction forms an anatomical and functional hub of the brain that helps us develop complex abilities, including the ability to recognize biological movement or the ability to empathize with other people.
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- Glossary
Dorsal thalamus
The thalamus is the largest structure in the diencephalon and is located above the hypothalamus. The thalamus is considered the "gateway to consciousness" because its nuclei are the transit station for all information to the cortex (cerebral cortex) – except for olfactory information, which first reaches the olfactory areas of the brain directly. At the same time, they also receive massive cortical inputs so it might be better to regard this a thalami-cortical system. The nuclei of the thalamus are grouped together. The term "gateway to consciousness" also refers to attention control, sleep-wake regulation, and consciousness modulation by the intralaminar nuclei.
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- Glossary
Thermoreceptor
Free nerve endings that serve as receptors for temperature sensations in the skin.
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- Glossary
Olfactory tract
Smell information travels via the olfactory tract from the olfactory bulb, located just above the nose, to the primary olfactory cortex.
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- Glossary
Trajectory
A physical term that describes the trajectory, or path, of an object – for example, a thrown object.
