caudate nucleus

noun

: the most medial of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere

called also caudate

Examples of caudate nucleus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the largest study of its kind, the scientists looked at the subcortical brain volume of the brainstem, caudate nucleus, putamen, hippocampus, globus pallidus, thalamus, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and the ventral diencephalon. New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2024 Neuroscientists say empathic concern is supported by several regions of the brain associated with social attachment and caregiving — the ventral tegmental area, caudate nucleus and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 May 2022 The cause, at a neurological level, is hyperconnectivity between two brain regions, the orbitofrontal cortex and the caudate nucleus, creating a tidal wave of unfounded mortal fear and triggering habitual response as the only way to attain calm. Steve Volk, Discover Magazine, 10 Dec. 2013 In an fMRI study, the caudate nucleus — the brain’s reward center — showed the most activation when the dog was presented with an object that smelled of its owner, as opposed to other olfactory stimuli. Richard Pallardy, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2021 Specifically, the hippocampus, the insula and the caudate nucleus, all key players in the dopamine reward system also involved with other types of cravings. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2019 The study also found that the caudate nucleus, a reward center in the brain, was activated in response to negative gossip about celebrities; subjects seemed to be amused or entertained by salacious celebrity scandals. Sophia Gottfried, Time, 25 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caudate nucleus was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near caudate nucleus

Cite this Entry

“Caudate nucleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caudate%20nucleus. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

caudate nucleus

noun
: the one of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere that comprises a mass of gray matter in the corpus striatum, forms part of the floor of the lateral ventricle, and is separated from the lentiform nucleus by the internal capsule

called also caudate

More from Merriam-Webster on caudate nucleus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!