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- Glossary
Visual system
The visual system is the part of the nervous system that processes visual information. It primarily comprises the eye, the optic nerve, the optic chiasm, the optic tract, the lateral geniculate nucleus, the optic radiation, the primary visual cortex, and the visual association cortices.
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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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- News
- Question to the brain
Why do we get Headaches?
The brain has no pain receptors. So why do we still get headaches?
14.10.2025
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Occipital Lobe
The sophisticated interconnection of the occipital lobe demonstrates just how complex the visual process is.
28.08.2025
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- Act
- Motor Skills
Forced Right-Handedness
When left-handed people were retrained to use their right hand, their brains were also retrained.
25.10.2025
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- Percieve
- Hearing
From Sound to Interpretation
How the ear processes fluctuations in air pressure into meaningful information.
03.10.2025
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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
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- News from the Institutes
Pigeons detect magnetic fields through their inner ear
While many animals rely on the Earth’s magnetic field for orientation, how they detect and perceive magnetic stimuli is unknown.
21.11.2025
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Diencephalon
The diencephalon has four levels and performs a variety of tasks.
28.11.2025
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- Discover
- Milestones
Hubel and Wiesel: Cutting the Lawn with Nail Scissors
Hubel and Wiesel worked diligently to establish fundamental knowledge about visual information processing.
26.09.2012
