| amphetamine |
a drug that stimulates the central nervous system, depressing appetite and heightening activity. |
| autonomic |
in physiology, of or relating to the autonomic nervous system. [1/3 definitions] |
| autonomic nervous system |
the part of the nervous system in vertebrates that controls involuntary bodily processes, such as the operation of the heart, stomach, and glands; sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems together. |
| beriberi |
a disease of the nervous system, caused by lack of thiamine and characterized by paralysis of the extremities and by swelling or emaciation. |
| beta blocker |
any of a class of drugs that inhibit the absorption of adrenalin and the activity of the autonomic nervous system, and are used to control the heartbeat and relieve angina and hypertension. |
| botulism |
an often lethal disease of the nervous system caused by ingesting even small amounts of the toxin botulin, produced by a bacterium that grows in poorly preserved or spoiled foods. |
| bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
a fatal disease, also known as "mad cow disease," that affects the nervous system of cattle. |
| brain |
the organ inside the skull of humans and animals. The brain is the main part of the central nervous system. It controls the body's movements and activities and is the center of thought, memory, and feelings. [1/3 definitions] |
| brain imaging |
the branch of medicine that deals with producing images of the brain and nervous system; neuroimaging. [2 definitions] |
| caffeine |
a bitter substance found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some sodas. Caffeine stimulates the heart and nervous system and can cause a person to stay awake and alert. |
| chorea |
a disease of the nervous system in humans and dogs whose symptoms include uncontrollable jerking movements of the face, arms, and legs. |
| dextroamphetamine |
a solid compound used to stimulate the central nervous system and control the appetite. |
| ectoderm |
an animal embryo's outermost layer of cells, from which the skin, nervous system, and sense organs develop. |
| enterovirus |
a genus of virus that can cause disease in human and other mammals. Infection typically begins in the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to other areas, including the nervous system. |
| epilepsy |
a nervous system disorder that causes convulsions and unconsciousness. |
| fightorflight response |
activation of the sympathetic nervous system that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event and readies the body for action. |
| histoplasmosis |
a mild infection or severe disease caused by a fungus taken into the body, sometimes attacking various organs or the nervous system. |
| Huntington's chorea |
an inheritable disorder of the nervous system causing progressive deterioration of the mental processes. |
| hydrophobia |
a deadly viral disease of the central nervous system, usu. transmitted by the bite of an infected animal; rabies. [1/2 definitions] |
| hypothalamus |
the part of the brain below the thalamus in the ventral region of the diencephalon, important in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and body temperature. |
| impulse |
in the nervous system, a transmitting of energy between neurons. [1/5 definitions] |