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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
Researchers found that the caudate nucleus, the area of the canine brain associated with positive expectations, was active to a similar or even greater level in 13 out of the 15 dogs when receiving praise compared with when they were given food.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1902, in the meaning defined above
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 21 Dec. 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
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about caudate nucleus
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