A cell that serves to communicate and process information within the nervous system.

A small molecule synthesised and released by the nerve endings of nerve cells in the process of transmission of nerve impulses.

A stimulus that has no obvious effect in terms of evoking a response. A conditional stimulus prior to conditioning.

Particle with no electric charge which is present in atomic nuclei.

Hydrogencarrying coenzyme derived from the vitamin niacin.

One subtype of glutamate receptor, which binds the amino acid glutamate (a major excitatory neurotransmitter) and mediates its effect in neurotransmission. It is named after the dicarboxylic amino acid N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), an agonist of glutamate used extensively to characterise different isoforms of glutamate receptor.

A neuron that is sensitive to tissue damage at its tip. Normally, the first stage in the process of pain.

The most common form of diabetes mellitus, in which the responsiveness of cells to insulin is diminished. Thus, although insulin may be present at normal (or near-normal) levels, it is not able to effect its normal regulatory role.

Those who fall into this social class are from professional and managerial occupations; sometimes called white-collar workers.

Generation of heat in brown adipose tissue (BAT) by the uncoupling of ATP formation from the electron transport chain. This is an important mechanism for the maintenance of body temperature in newborn babies.