Adult Neurology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
ideomotor apraxia
Inability to perform learned skilled movements on command despite understanding the task and having intact motor function.
decerebrate posturing
An abnormal body posture involving rigid extension of arms and legs, indicating severe brain stem damage.
decorticate posturing
An abnormal body posture with arms flexed inward and legs extended, indicating cerebral cortex damage.
deep brain stimulation
A neurosurgical procedure using implanted electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation to specific brain regions.
diffusion tensor imaging
An advanced MRI technique that maps white matter tracts by measuring water molecule movement in brain tissue.
diplopia
Double vision resulting from misalignment of the eyes or disruption of normal binocular vision.
dysarthria
Motor speech disorder affecting articulation due to weakness or incoordination of speech muscles.
dysexecutive syndrome
Constellation of cognitive and behavioral deficits resulting from frontal lobe dysfunction, affecting planning, problem-...
dysmetria
Impaired ability to control the distance, power, and speed of muscular action, resulting in overshoot or undershoot of i...
dysphasia
Partial loss of language ability affecting comprehension, expression, or both following brain injury.
dystonia
A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions causing abnormal movements and postures.
electroencephalogram
Recording of electrical activity in the brain used to diagnose seizure disorders and other neurological conditions.
encephalitis
Inflammation of brain tissue, typically caused by viral infections, autoimmune processes, or other inflammatory conditio...
extrapyramidal symptoms
Movement-related side effects of medications, typically antipsychotics, affecting the extrapyramidal motor system.
fasciculation
Involuntary muscle twitching visible under the skin, often indicating lower motor neuron disease.
FLAIR sequence
MRI technique that suppresses cerebrospinal fluid signal to enhance visualization of periventricular lesions.
gait apraxia
Inability to walk normally despite preserved strength and coordination, characterized by difficulty initiating and maint...
glioblastoma multiforme
Aggressive primary brain tumor arising from glial cells, representing the most malignant form of glioma.
glioma
Primary brain tumour arising from glial cells, classified by grade and histological subtype.
gliosis
The proliferation and activation of glial cells in response to central nervous system injury or disease.
graphesthesia
The ability to recognize letters, numbers, or shapes traced on the skin, typically tested on the palm or fingertips.
Guillain-Barré syndrome
An acute autoimmune polyneuropathy causing rapidly progressive weakness and sensory loss, often following infection. Cha...
hemianesthesia
Loss of sensation affecting one half of the body, typically resulting from central nervous system lesions.
hemianopia
Loss of vision in half of the visual field, typically indicating damage to the optic pathways posterior to the optic chi...
hemiataxia
Loss of coordination affecting one side of the body, typically indicating a cerebellar or brainstem lesion. Distinguishe...