Neuro Terms to Know

A neurological condition that usually develops within hours to days, in which a person is confused, agitated and inattentive. Hallucinations and delusional thoughts are common. Also called encephalopathy.

A type of brain wave which corresponds most commonly to your sleep state on an EEG, but can also be seen in periods of unconsciousness and in newborns.

A group of symptoms caused by disease, infection or trauma resulting in a loss of a person's mental functions.

Neurological diseases that result in destruction of the myelin sheath, which is the biological insulation material for your nerves in the brain and the periphery of your body.

The branching fibers of nerve cells known as axons that act as receptors of information. They receive message signals from other neurons and send them to the main body of your nerve cell.

Like a region on an enviornmental map, a dermatome is an area of your skin that is supplied mostly by a single spinal nerve. Seven of your eight cervical nerves, twelve thoracic nerves and five lumbar nerves and five sacral nerves. Each of these spinal nerves relays sensation from a particular region of the skin to the brain.

Also known as mental retardation. It is a symptom complex that involves dysfunction in  language, motor, thinking and or social interactions. This is often assessed when a child is 1-2 years old.

A condition caused by your body's inability to produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose metabolism. It is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the world.

A group of non-pharmaceutical drugs that work by stimulation the NMDA (glutamate) receptors in the nervous system. They cause a person to have emotions of being apart from reality and self. Symptoms can include altered sensations and vivid hallucinations. Examples included: Phencyclidine (PCP), dextromethorphan (found in certain cough medicines) and ketamine.

A common neurologic symptom that is a nonspecific term for a range of person's sensations including: the illusion of movement, spinning (vertigo), lightheadedness, near-fainting or instability of a person's body while sitting or standing.

Your specific brain cortex areas that have ate  linked to specific motor, sensory, and integrative functions. The neuro chemical reactions of specific domains can be seen on functional imaging studies such as  PET scans and functional MRI scans.

Important for body motions and reward experiences, including pleasure.

The tough, outer layer of the three membrane system that surrounds your brain and your spinal cord. It is located directly beneath your skull.

A neurological condition which causes a defect in the production of a person's speech pattern.  These changes include abnormal volume, rate and or quality of speech.

An abnormal, unpleasant sensation, which can be described as burning, crawling or pins and needles. A medical term that is connected to neuropathy.

A neuro cognitive disorder of learning in which a person has an impaired ability to process language,  which may include problems with spelling, reading and writing.

A chronic neurological disorder that causes symptoms of mild depression nearly daily for over two years.

A neurological condition in which a person has involuntary sustained or repetitive abnormal postures and abnormal muscle activity. These symptoms include twisting movements of the face, neck, trunk and or limbs.