Teaching With the Brain in Mind

◗ Glial. It is one of two major types of brain cells.
The other is a neuron. Glials outnumber neurons 10-1
and also are known as interneurons. They carry nutrients,
speed repair, and may form their own communication
network. Glial is short for “neuroglia.”
◗ Glutamate. An amino acid found in every cell in
the body, it is also used in the nervous system as a
“fast excitatory” neurotransmitter.
◗ Hippocampus. Found deep in the temporal lobe,
central to the middle of the brain area. It is crescent
shaped and strongly involved in learning and memory
formation.
◗ Hypothalamus. Located in the bottom center of
the middle of the brain area under the thalamus.
Complex thermostat-like structure that influences and
regulates appetite, hormone secretion, digestion, sexuality,
circulation, emotions, and sleep.
◗ Lateralization. Refers to the activity of using one
hemisphere more than another. The term “relative lateralization”
is more accurate because we are usually
using at least some of the left and right hemisphere at
the same time.
◗ Limbic system. An older term coined by Paul
MacLean in 1952. It describes a group of connected
structures in the mid-brain area, which includes the
hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, fornix, hippocampus,
and cingulate gyrus.
◗ Lower brain. This is the lower portion of the brain
composed of the upper spinal cord, medulla, pons, and
some say the reticular formation. It sorts sensory information
and regulates survival functions like breathing
and heart rate.
◗ Medulla oblongata. Located in the brain stem, it
channels information between the cerebral hemispheres
and the spinal cord. It controls respiration,
circulation, wakefulness, breathing, and heart rate.
◗ Mid-brain. Refers to the geographical area behind
frontal lobes, above brain stem, and below parietal
lobes. Structures within it include thalamus, hippocampus,
and amygdala.
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Glossary of Brain Terms
◗ Myelin. A fatty white shield that coats and insulates
axons. They can help make the cells (neurons)
more efficient and allow electrical impulses to travel
up to 12 times faster. Habits may be a result of myelinated
axons.
◗ Neurotropin. Any nutrient that enhances brain
function. May include food, hormones, or medications.
◗ Neuron. One of two types of brain cells. We have
about 100 billion of these. Receives stimulation from
its branches, known as dendrites. Communicates to
other neurons by firing a nerve impulse along an
axon.
◗ Neurotransmitters. Our brain’s biochemical messengers.
We have more than 50 types of them. These
usually act as the stimulus that excites a neighboring
neuron or as an inhibitor to suppress activation of the
electrical impulse traveling from the cell body down
the axon.
◗ NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor. A receptor
for the amino acid called glutamate, which is
found in every cell in the body and which plays a
central role in brain function.
◗ Noradrenaline. A common neurotransmitter, primarily
involved in our arousal states: fight or flight,
metabolic rate, blood pressure, emotions, and mood.
◗ Occipital lobe. Located in the rear of the cerebrum.
One of the four major areas of the upper brain, this
lobe processes our vision. The other three areas are
parietal, frontal, and temporal lobes.
◗ Oxytocin. A peptide also know as the “commitment
molecule.” It’s released during sex and pregnancy
and influences “unlearning” and pair bonding.
◗ Parietal lobe. The top of our upper brain, it’s one
of four major areas of the cerebrum. This area deals
with reception of sensory information from the body’s
opposite side. It also plays a part in reading, writing,
language, and calculation. The other three lobes are
the occipital, temporal, and frontal.