Neurobiology Glossary

Mathematical representation of movement direction decoded from multiple motor cortex neurons.

Protein-rich region beneath the postsynaptic membrane containing receptors and signaling molecules.

The endpoint of an axon containing synaptic vesicles and neurotransmitter release machinery.

The specific region of sensory space where stimuli can influence a neuron's firing rate.

The brief interval after an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire another action potential.

The stable electrical charge across a neuron's membrane when the cell is not actively signaling.

Communication from postsynaptic to presynaptic neurons that modulates neurotransmitter release.

Axonal projections from hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons that synapse onto CA1 pyramidal neurons, forming a major hippo...

The specific brain region where abnormal electrical activity originates during an epileptic seizure.

A high-frequency oscillatory event in the hippocampus associated with memory consolidation during rest and sleep.

A synaptic connection containing only NMDA receptors, functionally inactive at resting potential but recruitable during...

Systematic spatial organization of neural representations that corresponds to the anatomical arrangement of body parts.

A sequence of action potentials recorded from a single neuron over time, appearing as discrete electrical events.

Form of synaptic plasticity where the relative timing of pre- and postsynaptic spikes determines synaptic strength chang...

Statistical method to determine the stimulus features that precede action potentials.

A computational model that incorporates the timing of individual action potentials, unlike rate-based neural networks.

A prolonged seizure or series of seizures lasting more than 30 minutes without recovery of consciousness, representing a...

An invasive technique using depth electrodes placed with stereotactic precision to record intracranial EEG for epilepsy...

Three-dimensional coordinate system used to precisely locate structures within the brain for surgical or experimental pr...

The narrow gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons at a synapse.

The ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time in response to activity patterns and experience.

Integration of multiple synaptic inputs arriving at a neuron within a short time window.

Potent neurotoxin that selectively blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, preventing action potential generation.

A prominent 4-12 Hz oscillation in the hippocampus associated with memory formation and spatial navigation.