locus coeruleus
noun
locus coe·ru·le·us
-si-ˈrü-lē-əs 
variants
or less commonly locus ceruleus
: a bluish area of the brain stem with many norepinephrine-containing neurons
Examples of locus coeruleus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From there, the vagus nerve’s signals travel to other important brain structures with bewildering Latin names, such as the locus coeruleus and the dorsal raphe nuclei.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2015
Holmes’s research on rats and mice shows that even moderate exercise can activate the locus coeruleus, a small brainstem nucleus that is important for attention, arousal, motivation and cognitive function.
—Kelyn Soong, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023
The locus coeruleus neurons make substances called trophic factors, which promote the building of neural circuits.
—Kelyn Soong, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023
The study, carried out by an international team of researchers from the U.S. and the U.K., focused on the locus coeruleus, a collection of neurons in the brainstem.
—Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2018
But other researchers have found links between pupil size and a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus, which sits near the back of the head.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2021
Dysfunction of the locus coeruleus, and the resulting breakdown of organized brain activity, has been related to several conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
—Jason S. Tsukahara, Scientific American, 2 June 2021
Similarly, different types of fibers travel to different places, including a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 10 June 2021
One hypothesis is that people who have larger pupils at rest have greater regulation of activity by the locus coeruleus, which benefits cognitive performance and resting-state brain function.
—Jason S. Tsukahara, Scientific American, 2 June 2021
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IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2015
Holmes’s research on rats and mice shows that even moderate exercise can activate the locus coeruleus, a small brainstem nucleus that is important for attention, arousal, motivation and cognitive function.
—Kelyn Soong, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023
The locus coeruleus neurons make substances called trophic factors, which promote the building of neural circuits.
—Kelyn Soong, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023
The study, carried out by an international team of researchers from the U.S. and the U.K., focused on the locus coeruleus, a collection of neurons in the brainstem.
—Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2018
But other researchers have found links between pupil size and a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus, which sits near the back of the head.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2021
Dysfunction of the locus coeruleus, and the resulting breakdown of organized brain activity, has been related to several conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
—Jason S. Tsukahara, Scientific American, 2 June 2021
Similarly, different types of fibers travel to different places, including a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 10 June 2021
One hypothesis is that people who have larger pupils at rest have greater regulation of activity by the locus coeruleus, which benefits cognitive performance and resting-state brain function.
—Jason S. Tsukahara, Scientific American, 2 June 2021
Dictionary Entries Near locus coeruleus
Cite this Entry
“Locus coeruleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locus%20coeruleus. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
locus coeruleus
noun
lo·cus coe·ru·le·us
variants
also locus ceruleus
plural loci coerulei also loci cerulei
-lē-ˌī
: a blue area of the brain stem with many norepinephrine-containing neurons
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