| alexia |
the loss of reading ability, caused by lesions in the brain. |
| alpha wave |
the type of brain wave that is a sign of relaxation, having frequencies from eight to thirteen hertz; alpha rhythm. |
| Alzheimer's disease |
a severe, progressive disease that causes the brain cells to degenerate, often leading to dementia. |
| amnesia |
partial or complete loss of memory, esp. as a result of shock or injury to the brain. |
| anencephaly |
congenital absence of all or part of the brain. |
| aphasia |
partial or total loss of the ability to use or to understand spoken or written language, usu. as a result of damage to the brain. |
| apoplexy |
the sudden loss of the ability to feel or move, caused by a rupture or obstruction of an artery in the brain; stroke. |
| apraxia |
a disorder that prevents certain complex muscular movements, caused by damage to the brain. |
| arachnoid |
the middle of the three fibrous membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. (See dura mater, pia mater.) [1/5 definitions] |
| body clock |
(non-technical) a cluster of cells in the hypothalamus lobe of the brain that controls Circadian rhythm, esp. the regulation of such biological functions as eating and sleeping. [1/2 definitions] |
| brain cell |
a cell in the brain, esp. a neuron. |
| brain damage |
damage to the brain that impairs function. |
| brain-damaged |
having or pertaining to brain damage. |
| brain-dead |
characterized by brain death. [1/2 definitions] |
| brain imaging |
the branch of medicine that deals with producing images of the brain and nervous system; neuroimaging. [2 definitions] |
| brainpan |
the part of the skull that holds the brain; cranium; braincase. |
| brain stem |
the lower portions of the brain that connect the brain to the spinal cord. |
| brain wave |
(usu. pl.) rhythmic electric impulses occurring within the brain. [1/2 definitions] |
| cerebellopontine angle |
a region of the brain between the pons and cerebellum where tumors frequently form. |
| cerebellum |
the region of the brain controlling voluntary muscle coordination and balance. |
| cerebral palsy |
a motor disorder caused by damage to the brain before or during birth, characterized by spastic paralysis and difficulty in controlling the voluntary muscles. |