AXON A tendril-like offshoot from a brain cell that passes signals between the cells.
BDNF Brain-derived neurotrophic factor. A protein created by the brain that has shown to be important for many brain functions, such as creating new brain cells, as well as for our memory and general well-being.
CEREBELLUM Situated at the back of the skull, it is important for motor control and balance. The cerebellum makes up 10 percent of total brain volume.
CORTEX The cerebral cortex is the brain’s outer layer and its most sophisticated part. It is also the part of the brain where major work is carried out. It consists mainly of cell bodies. The cerebral cortex is, unlike the rest of the brain, made up of six layers.
CORTISOL A stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands (situated on top of the kidneys) that increases heart rate, blood pressure, and warns and prepares us for fight or flight. In the long term, high cortisol levels will break down the brain, especially the hippocampus.
DOPAMINE A substance that controls well-being and, especially, motivation, drive, and reward. It is also important for concentration and movement.
ENDOCANNABINOIDS Endogenous substances that can produce pain relief and euphoria. They have common receptors with marijuana and THC (Tetrahydrocannbinol/cannabis).
ENDORPHINS Endogenous morphine (endogenic = originating within a cell, the body, etc.) is a group of hormones created in the brain (and the rest of the body) that can provide pain relief and euphoria.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS or COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS A collective term for functions such as impulse control and concentration, and the ability to change and adapt behavior to current surroundings.
FRONTAL LOBE The anterior part of the brain. Logical and abstract thinking, as well as emotional control, are situated here. The frontal lobe is the most advanced part of the brain.
GABA Gamma-aminobutyric acid. A substance that calms the brain’s activity.
GRAY MATTER This is mainly composed of neuronal cell bodies. The gray coloring isn’t noticeable until after death. A living brain is more pink in color.
HIPPOCAMPUS Big as a thumb. There is one hippocampus in each side of the brain. Important for memory, but also for emotional control and spatial orientation. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is probably the most affected by physical activity.
HPA-AXIS The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is the brain’s most important stress control system. It starts in the area called the hypothalamus, which sends a signal to the pituitary (a gland in the brain), which in turn signals the adrenal glands to produce the stress hormone cortisol.
HYPOTHALAMUS Central area in the brain important for blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and metabolism.
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Sophisticated medical imaging technique that displays body organs in high resolution. Functional MRI (fMRI) is used to follow different areas of the brain as they are activated. This is done by measuring blood flow to the different areas. Large blood flow indicates high activity in the area. An MRI machine is the size of a small car, and you’re pushed into a tube that looks like a small tunnel. A magnetic field is created in the tunnel, and this field is so strong that the magnet that creates the field must be chilled in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -328°F (-200°C).
NEUROGENESIS The creation of new brain cells. Earlier it was believed that new brain cells were only created in children, but now we know that new brain cells are created throughout life—even in adults.
NEURON Brain cell.
NORADRENALINE Norephinephrine. A substance in the brain that controls alertness and concentration, among other things.
ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX Part of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead. Important for decision making and the reward system.
PET SCAN Positron emission tomography. Sophisticated medical imaging technique where radioactive substances are injected into the body. Used for research and in health care to locate tumors, among other things.
PITUITARY A pea-sized gland in the brain that regulates several of the body’s important hormones like the stress hormone cortisol. The P in pituitary is the same P in the name of our body’s stress control system, the HPA axis.
PREFRONTAL CORTEX Anterior part of the frontal lobe. The seat for our most sophisticated intellectual functions, like how to anticipate the future, adapt or conform to changes, put off rewards, and act toward others.
SEROTONIN A substance in the brain that is vital for our mood, especially for calm and inner strength.
SSRI Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The most common pharmaceutical used in treating depressive disorders. Acts by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain but also affects noradrenalin and dopamine.
SYNAPSE The small space between two brain cells where the contact between cells happens. The cells don’t touch but send out signal substances such dopamine, serotonin, and GABA to one another.
TEMPORAL LOBE The part of brain behind the temple. Important for memory, among other things.
THALAMUS Central in the brain where a lot of information passes through. Functions at times like a filter to make sure we’re not overloaded with information.
THE REPTILIAN BRAIN The part of the brain that has been preserved through evolution, and that we have in common with simpler mammals. Functions like our fight-or-flight mode are there. The reptilian brain makes us react to danger (like running away) but not anticipate danger beforehand.
WHITE MATTER The connections between brain cells. They are situated beneath the gray matter and consist of long tendril-like axons between the brain cells. The white color is from the axons being coated in a fatty substance called myelin that increases the speed of signal transmission.
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2. Run away from stress
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5. Jog your memory
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6. Train yourself to be creative
That Mozart’s letter is a forgery is shown in How to fly a horse, a book by the American author Kevin Ashton, and in an essay by Jan Gradvall in Dagens Industri, May 2015.
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7. The growing brain
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8. Healthy aging for the brain
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