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- News
- Question to the brain
How can Synesthesia be explained?
Is it true that some people experience sensory impressions mixing together? How does this happen?
13.10.2024
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- Basics
- The Glymphatic System
When the Brain gets clogged with Waste
Not even a coffee cup full of “nerve water” can flush out the brain at night – but woe betide you if you don't.
06.11.2024
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Cerebellum
Highly aesthetic, but long underestimated: the cerebellum does more than just coordinate movements.
05.08.2025
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- News
- 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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- Discover
- Milestones
Alcmaeon: Pioneer of experimental Brain Research
The ancient philosopher Alcmaeon of Croton founded scientific brain research.
28.01.2014
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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
Inferior occipital gyrus
Part of the occipital lobe, the rearmost of the four large lobes of the cerebral cortex. Functionally, this is where visual information is processed. The inferior occipital gyrus is part of the early visual association areas.
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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
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
Pulvinar
The pulvinar is a fairly large nucleus in the posterior thalamus that is connected to many visual centers. It appears to increase the excitability of cells in the visual cortex as soon as a stimulus is noticed. Some studies suggest that the pulvinar may also indirectly support language processing via cortical connections.
