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- Question to the brain
Why is it soothing to pet Animals?
Many people find petting an animal soothing. Is there a neurobiological explanation for this?
08.12.2024
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- Glossary
Simple cell
An orientation-sensitive cell in the primary visual cortex (part of the cerebral cortex) whose receptive field is divided into ON and OFF subfields. For example, it reacts strongly to lines of a certain orientation.
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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.
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- Glossary
Hypercomplex cell
A nerve cell in the primary visual cortex that responds most strongly to short, moving lines or corners in its receptive field. It exhibits end-stopping, meaning that the response strength decreases when the stimulus becomes longer than optimal. Hypercomplex cells are sensitive to the orientation and direction of movement of the stimulus and contribute to the perception of edges, corners, and curves.
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- Glossary
Cortical blindness
When the primary visual cortex is destroyed, those affected are effectively blind, even though their eyes are undamaged. However, they are often unconsciously able to grasp and catch objects and even name them when asked to guess. This effect is known as blind sight.
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- Basics
- The Developing Brain
The invisible Bond
Emotional bond – the essential connection between children and parents.
18.03.2026
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- Basics
- Communication of Cells
Cells: Specialized Workers of the Brain
Several billion tiny cells are located in the brain. There they perform amazing work.
01.07.2025
