Neuro-

Neuro-

The prefix neuro-, such as in neuro-linguistic programming or NLP, which combines elements from neurologicalprocesses and linguistics, is widespread in words denoting matters of the cortex. Thus, neurolinguistics combine the study of brain structure and languageprocesses. The term neural refers to neurons. A neuron is the basic unit in brain biology, it is composed of the cellbody or soma, together with extending dendrites. As usual, the nucleus rests within the cell with the nucleolus, while the axon is myelinated or covered in myelinsheaths. Further, terminal buttons extrude from the axon and play an important role in chemical messaging.

Chemicalmessengers and substances such as neurohormones and neurotranmitters complete critical tasks in neurobiology. For example, serotonin, being the body’s natural mood regulator (among its other functions), isthought to be involved in depression. The postulate, and a large body ofevidence in the forms of scientific, peer-reviewed studies behind it, lends support to use of SSRIsor Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as Fluoxetine, a medication better known by its popular brand name Prozac.

The Neuro- prefix in flashing text on a decorated banner – Graphic Web Design. Image: © Elena

Moreover, chemical substances names containing the prefix neuro- are numerous. For instance, neurotoxins(such as those found in the venom of certain spiders and other poisonous insects), neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and GABA),neurochemicals, neurohormones (cortisol), neuropeptides (oxytocin). Also, neurosciencecovers several fields: Neuropsychology, neuroscience, neurology,neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, neurophysics, neurobiology, psychoneuroendocrinology, pharmacological neuropsychiatry and so on…

Clearly, neurosciencehas different subdivisions or branches, such as social and affectiveneuroscience, computational neuroscience and cognitive science or cognition.Briefly, neuroscience is the scientific study of the mind, based on evidence obtainedfrom understanding the functioning, mechanisms and structure of the brain.Neuroscientists employ neuroimaging methods vastly, which allows elucidation ofcortical activity in real time.

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