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- Glossary
Mesolimbic pathway
A system of neurons that use dopamine as a neurotransmitter and play a crucial role in emotion, reward, and substance abuse. The cell bodies are located in the subtegmental area and extend to the amygdala, the hippocampus, and – most importantly – the nucleus accumbens, where they have their terminal buttons.
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- Glossary
Myelin
Myelin is a fatty substance produced by glial cells. It envelops the axons (long, fiber-like extensions) of nerve cells and insulates them, preventing messages from passing uncontrollably to neighboring nerve cells. This also greatly accelerates conduction velocity.
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- Glossary
Neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger, an intermediary substance. It is released by the sender neuron at the sites of cell-cell communication and has an excitatory or inhibitory effect on the receiver neuron.
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- Glossary
Parasympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system is part of the vegetative or autonomic nervous system. The latter term refers to the fact that this part of the nervous system is not subject to voluntary control. It controls the activities of most of the internal organs as well as the heartbeat. In contrast to its counterpart, the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system is most active when the body is at rest. Among other things, it controls digestion and urination. Acetylcholine serves as the messenger substance for signal transmission within the parasympathetic nervous system.
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- Glossary
Second messenger
A second messenger is a chemical substance that transmits a signal within the cell after a receptor on the cell membrane has been activated. It is formed or released intracellularly and mediates the effect of the original signal on various target structures in the cell, often amplifying the signal.
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- Think
- Emotions
Researching Disgust
Does disgust protect us from pathogens, or is it the most malicious of all emotions?
25.10.2025
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- News from the Institutes
Towards understanding inflammation in depression
Immune markers identified
29.10.2024
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- Percieve
- Hearing
Ringing in the Ears
Tinnitus: The annoying whistling and buzzing does not originate in the ear, but in the brain.
28.10.2025
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- Diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
Living with, not despite, Multiple Sclerosis
A good life despite MS? Yes, it is possible!
15.10.2025
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- Topic
The Fly
Feeding, reproducing, surviving – fruit flies not only share our evolutionary goals, they also have a similar nervous system.
