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- Glossary
Superior colliculus
The upper pair of hills of the four hills of the midbrain (tectum) are also referred to in the plural as colliculi superiores. They form a switching center in the optical system for reflex movements of the eyes and for pupil reflexes.
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- Glossary
Diencephalon
The diencephalon (midbrain) includes the thalamus and hypothalamus, among other structures. Together with the cerebrum, it forms the forebrain. The diencephalon contains centers for sensory perception, emotion, and the control of vital functions such as hunger and thirst.
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- Glossary
Red nucleus
The "red nucleus" owes its name to its high iron content. It can be seen with the naked eye as a large, round, reddish-colored nucleus in the midbrain. It belongs to the extrapyramidal motor system, and its central tasks are posture and muscle tone.
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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
Tectum
A structure in the midbrain consisting of two pairs of mounds, the upper colliculi and the lower colliculi.
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- Glossary
Ventral tegmental area
Located in the midbrain, the uppermost section of the brain stem, is the ventral tegmental area (VTA) – a central component of the reward system. The area itself is not particularly large, but its influence is immense: the neurons of the VTA send their axons to the nucleus accumbens and widely into the prefrontal cortex (PFC), where they release the neuromodulator dopamine. In this way, they enhance learning processes, but can also contribute to the development of addictions.
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- Grundlagen
- Anatomy
The Hypothalamus
Nutrition and reproduction – these activities are controlled by the hypothalamus at the neural and hormonal levels.
01.07.2025
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- News
- Question to the brain
How do Placebo Drugs work?
What actually happens in the brain during the placebo effect?
02.02.2025
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- Grundlagen
- Communication in the Brain
Neurotransmitters: Messenger Molecules in the Brain
“Happy hormone” & Co.: Without neurotransmitters, nerve cells would not be able to communicate.
05.08.2025
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- Grundlagen
- Anatomy
The Subthalamus
A pale nucleus and an excitatory lens, and the zone of uncertainty – that is the subthalamus.
01.10.2025
