anterior An adjective meaning near the front of some structure, or it can mean earlier tin time.
biology The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists.
brain scan The use of an imaging technology, typically using X rays or a magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) machine, to view structures inside the brain. With MRI technology — especially the type known as functional MRI (or fMRI) — the activity of different brain regions can be viewed during an event, such as viewing pictures, computing sums or listening to music.
cognitive A term that relates to mental activities, such as thinking, learning, remembering and solving puzzles.
conductive Able to carry an electric current.
cortex The outermost layer of neural tissue of the brain.
fight or flight response The body’s response to a threat, either real or imagined. During the fight-or-flight response, digestion shuts down as the body prepares to deal with the threat (fight) or to run away from it (flight).
heart rate Heart beat; the number of times per minute that the heart — a pump — contracts, moving blood throughout the body.
insular cortex (also known as insula) This is a part of the cerebral cortex — the outermost layer of brain tissue in people. Instead of being on the outside of the brain, though, the insular cortex is part of a deep fold on either side of the brain, right above the ears. The insula plays a role in consciousness — awareness of ourselves and the world around us. The front part of the insula — called the anterior insula — helps us process our own emotions, feel disgust and empathize with other people’s feelings. The insula is also involved in movement, drug addiction, swallowing and even controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
misophonia Meaning "hatred of sound," it's a condition affecting some people that causes them to become highly anxious or annoyed by certain sounds, especially the sounds of eating, drinking or breathing.
neurological An adjective that refers to the brain, spinal cord or nerves. Doctors who study these tissues and cells are known as neurologists.
physical (adj.) A term for things that exist in the real world, as opposed to in memories or the imagination. It can also refer to properties of materials that are due to their size and non-chemical interactions (such as when one block slams with force into another).
psychologist A scientist or mental-health professional who studies the human mind, especially in relation to actions and behavior.