Neuroscience Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
cerebrospinal fluid CSF
Clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, providing cushioning and nutrient transport.
glioblastoma
An aggressive malignant brain tumor arising from glial cells in the cerebral hemispheres.
gliosis
A pathological process involving proliferation and hypertrophy of glial cells in response to brain injury or disease.
graphesthesia
The ability to recognize letters or numbers traced on the skin, testing cortical sensory integration.
hemianopia
Loss of vision in half of the visual field, typically caused by damage to the visual pathway.
hemineglect
Failure to attend to or acknowledge one side of space, typically following right hemisphere damage.
hemiparesis
Weakness affecting one side of the body, less severe than complete paralysis.
hemiplegia
Complete paralysis of one side of the body, typically resulting from stroke or brain injury.
hemodynamics
The study of blood flow and circulation, particularly relevant in neurology for cerebral blood flow assessment.
hippocampal sclerosis
Neuronal loss and gliosis in the hippocampus, commonly associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.
hydrocephalus
Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain's ventricular system.
hyperreflexia
Abnormally exaggerated reflexes indicating upper motor neuron damage.
ictal
Relating to or occurring during an epileptic seizure.
ideomotor apraxia
Inability to perform learned movements on command despite intact motor function and comprehension.
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, encompassing brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.
ischemia
Inadequate blood supply to brain tissue, potentially leading to neuronal death and stroke.
kindling
Progressive increase in seizure susceptibility following repeated subthreshold electrical stimulation.
lumbar puncture
A medical procedure involving insertion of a needle into the spinal canal to collect cerebrospinal fluid.
magnetoencephalography
A neuroimaging technique that measures magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain.
meningioma
A typically benign brain tumor arising from the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain.
myelin sheath
Fatty tissue wrapping around nerve fibers that speeds up electrical signal transmission.
neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life.
neurotransmitter
Chemical messenger that transmits signals between neurons across synapses.
NIHSS
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, a standardized assessment tool for quantifying stroke severity.
nystagmus
Involuntary rhythmic eye movements that can indicate vestibular or neurological dysfunction.