Glossary Definition Page.

Axon – a long ending of a brain cell.  It transmits electrical impulses away from the neuron’s cell body or soma to the next brain cell.

Acetylcholine - is a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans.

Brain plasticity – is the same what is neuroplasticity.

Brainwashing -  the process of instilling in someone’s mind  certain attitudes and beliefs in order to   change  a person’s value system, thoughts pattern and behaviour.

Compulsion – a strong irresistible impulse to perform a certain action or behaviour (for example, a compulsion to binge in bulimics.)

Caudate nucleus - is an anatomical structure in the middle of brain. It is responsible for learning and memory. It also helps our brain to switch from one behaviour to another.  It plays a huge role in obsessive –compulsive behaviours.


Dendrites – the treelike extensions of a neuron (or small endings of a neuron).

Dopamine – is a chemical in the brain, one of the neurotransmitters. Dopamine has many functions in the brain, including important roles in behavior and cognition, motor activity, motivation and reward, inhibition of prolactin production (involved in lactation), sleep, mood, attention, and learning. Dopamine plays role in developing addictions.

Hippocampus – is and anatomical structure of the brain and a part of the limbic system. It plays important roles in long term memory and spatial navigation.

Myelin - electrically insulating material that surrounds only the axon of a neuron.

Neuron - is a brain cell or nerve cell  that processes and transmits information by electrochemical signalling.

Neural pathway – is a connection of neurons  responsible for a behaviour or for an action.

Neuroplasticity - (variously referred to as brain plasticity, cortical plasticity or cortical re-mapping) refers to changes that occur in the organization of the brain as a result of experience. The coining of the term plasticity in regards to neuronal process is attributed to Polish neuroscientist Jerzy Konorski.

Neurotransmitter - are chemicals that transmit messages in the brain from cell to cell, from one part of the brain to another.

Neurogenesis- (birth of neurons) is the process by which neurons are created.

Neuroscience – is the scientific study of the nervous system.

Neuroplastic therapy – is a therapy which includes neuroplasticity .

Limbic system – is a set of brain structures including the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior thalamic nuclei, and limbic cortex, which support a variety of functions including emotion, behavior, memory, and smell. It is located in the middle of the brain.

Obsession – Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.

OCD – obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Omega-3 acid – are a family of unsaturated fatty acids. It is considered to be good for brain function and immune system.

Orbital – frontal cortex - is a region of  the human brain involved in cognitive processes such as decision-making.

Plastic paradox – neuro  scientific “phenomenon”  when neuroplasticity produces more rigid behaviours and bad habits. The term was first used by Dr Norman Doidge, MD

PET scan - Positron emission tomography. PET scan is used to see the microscopic changes in the brain.

Serotonin – is a chemical in the brain. It is responsible for many mental and emotional functions of human brain.

Synapses - are specialized junctions through which neurons signal to each other and to non-neuronal cells such as those in muscles or glands.