Brain Glossary
axon the long, skinny part of a neuron that uses electrical impulses to comunicate
cerebellum This part of the brain is located in the back of our heads and it helps us balance and organize our bodies and our thoughts in a coordinated way (and it is Libby's favorite part of the brain).
cognitive control the ability to control certain thoughts and ignore others Example: Tyrone showed cognitive control when he was able to concentrate on his homework and not be distracted by the music his brother was playing.
corpus callosum A bundle of 50 million neurons that connects the two halves of your brain (and Kirstie’s favorite part of the brain).
correlation a connection between two things Example: There is a correlation between eating lots of candy and getting a stomach ache.
delayed gratification the ability for people to wait a period of time before they get a reward Example: Waiting to eat dessert until after dinner is an example of delayed gratification.
hippocampus This part of the brain helps with learning and memory. It is shaped like a banana (and it is Natalie’s favorite part of the brain).
hypothalamus This part of the brain tells us when we are hungry, thirsty, tired, hot or cold (and it is Allyson, and Anna’s favorite part of the brain).
hypothesis A possible answer to a research question. A hypothesis is tested in an experiment. Dr. Silvia wants to know where in the brain reasoning takes place in children. Her hypothesis is that reasoning takes place in the front of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex. Dr. Silvia designed an experiment called NORA, to test her hypothesis.
left temporoparietal junction This part of the brain helps us guess what other people are thinking (and it is Jessica’s favorite part of the brain)
MRI MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This machine uses magnets to take pictures of the brain. When people talk about Functional MRI, they are talking about using this machine to take pictures of the brain's functioning, or activity. Learn more about MRI.
neuron A cell that is located in your brain and spinal cord. There are about 100 billions neurons in a human brain!
neuroscience the scientific study of the brain Example: The scientists at the Bunge Lab study neuroscience.
orbitofrontal cortex This part of the brain helps us make decisions. It is in the front of the brain, right above the eyes (and it is Kepa's favorite part of the brain).
prefrontal cortex This is the part of the brain that helps us pay attention, be organized and solve tricky problems. It is in the very front of the brain right behind the forehead (and it is Anett's favorite part of the brain).
reasoning the ability to use what we already know to solve new problems Example: Chris learned that triangles are the strongest shape so when Chris was building a bridge in class, he reasoned that if he used triangles to build his bridge it would be really strong.
recruit to find people to participate Suzie and Natalie spend a lot of time recruiting people to be a part of the studies at the Bunge Lab.
Sylvian fissure This part of the brain helps with speaking and understanding language (and it is Silvia’s favorite part of the brain)
thalamic reticular formation This is an area in the middle of the brain that filters out information from your senses that you don't need to pay attention to (and it is Suzie’s favorite part of the brain)
tic An unwanted sound and/or body movement (not to be confused with a tick – a bug that bites humans and other animals)
Tourette’s Syndrome A syndrome where a person performs unwanted sounds and movements. These extra sounds and/or movements are called tics.

Brain Glossary

axon

the long, skinny part of a neuron that uses electrical impulses to comunicate

cerebellum

This part of the brain is located in the back of our heads and it helps us balance and organize our bodies and our thoughts in a coordinated way (and it is Libby's favorite part of the brain).

cognitive control

the ability to control certain thoughts and ignore others

Example: Tyrone showed cognitive control when he was able to concentrate on his homework and not be distracted by the music his brother was playing.

corpus callosum

A bundle of 50 million neurons that connects the two halves of your brain (and Kirstie’s favorite part of the brain).

correlation

a connection between two things

Example: There is a correlation between eating lots of candy and getting a stomach ache.

delayed gratification

the ability for people to wait a period of time before they get a reward

Example: Waiting to eat dessert until after dinner is an example of delayed gratification.

hippocampus

This part of the brain helps with learning and memory. It is shaped like a banana (and it is Natalie’s favorite part of the brain).

hypothalamus

This part of the brain tells us when we are hungry, thirsty, tired, hot or cold (and it is Allyson, and Anna’s favorite part of the brain).

hypothesis

A possible answer to a research question. A hypothesis is tested in an experiment.

Dr. Silvia wants to know where in the brain reasoning takes place in children. Her hypothesis is that reasoning takes place in the front of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex. Dr. Silvia designed an experiment called NORA, to test her hypothesis.

left temporoparietal junction

This part of the brain helps us guess what other people are thinking (and it is Jessica’s favorite part of the brain)

MRI

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This machine uses magnets to take pictures of the brain. When people talk about Functional MRI, they are talking about using this machine to take pictures of the brain's functioning, or activity.

Learn more about MRI.

neuron

A cell that is located in your brain and spinal cord. There are about 100 billions neurons in a human brain!

neuroscience

the scientific study of the brain

Example: The scientists at the Bunge Lab study neuroscience.

orbitofrontal cortex

This part of the brain helps us make decisions. It is in the front of the brain, right above the eyes (and it is Kepa's favorite part of the brain).

prefrontal cortex

This is the part of the brain that helps us pay attention, be organized and solve tricky problems. It is in the very front of the brain right behind the forehead (and it is Anett's favorite part of the brain).

reasoning

the ability to use what we already know to solve new problems

Example: Chris learned that triangles are the strongest shape so when Chris was building a bridge in class, he reasoned that if he used triangles to build his bridge it would be really strong.

recruit

to find people to participate

Suzie and Natalie spend a lot of time recruiting people to be a part of the studies at the Bunge Lab.

Sylvian fissure

This part of the brain helps with speaking and understanding language (and it is Silvia’s favorite part of the brain)

thalamic reticular formation

This is an area in the middle of the brain that filters out information from your senses that you don't need to pay attention to (and it is Suzie’s favorite part of the brain)

tic

An unwanted sound and/or body movement (not to be confused with a tick – a bug that bites humans and other animals)

Tourette’s Syndrome

A syndrome where a person performs unwanted sounds and movements. These extra sounds and/or movements are called tics.

Learn more brain words!