A human brain with with a close-up of nerve cells

Brain and Nervous System Conditions

Understanding how your brain and nervous system function can help you recognize the symptoms of conditions that affect them. Learn about diagnostic tests, associated diseases, and treatment options.
Graphic shows how the stress response system works starting with the hypothalamus and ending with cortisol release.
What Is Cortisol?
Confused women
Retrograde Amnesia: Overview And More
Neurons
Types of Neurons: Parts, Structure, and Function
Illustration of pills/medicine
Ingrezza (Valbenazine) Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages
Illustration of pills/medicine
Onfi (Clobazam) Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages, Interactions
Illustration of oral medication/pills
Tegretol (Carbamazepine) Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage
Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms
Early Signs of Tardive Dyskinesia
Child learning on a computer
A Guide to Developmental Dyspraxia (for Adults With and Without Kids)
Memory to play game
All About the Different Types of Amnesia
Computer artwork of the brain showing the hypothalamus (red)
Hypothalamus Disorders: Anatomy, Function, and Treatment
Pharmacist's hands taking medicines from shelf
Are Tardive Dyskinesia and Extrapyramidal Symptoms the Same?
High Angle View Of Woman Holding Dumbbells
Muscle Weakness: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
SPINAL CORD CROSS SECTION, 5X SHOWS: GRAY MATTER (GOLDEN BUTTERFLY), WHITE MATTER, CENTRAL CANAL, DORSAL & VENTRAL ROOT, DORSAL ROOT GANGLION, MENINGES, DORSAL HORN, VENTRAL (ANTERIOR) HORN, & ANTERIOR HORN CELLS (MOTOR NEURON CELL BODIES) - stock photo
Learn About How the Meninges Support the Brain and Nervous System
Portrait of positive young Asian woman with eye closed, enjoying sunlight under blue sky and clouds
Serotonin vs. Dopamine: What Are the Differences?
young man staring into the sky daydreaming
What Is Maladaptive Daydreaming?
Nerve synapse. Computer artwork of a junction, or synapse, between two nerve cells (neurons, blue). As the electrical signal reaches the presynaptic end of a neuron it triggers the release of neurotransmitters across the gap, or synaptic cleft, between the two cells. The neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, changing the membrane's excitability and triggering an electrical impulse. A network of neurons is in the background. Each neuron consists of a central cell body with many dendrites branching from it.
What Is Serotonin?
Illustration of synaptic gap between neural cells with neurotransmitters exchanging
What Are Neurotransmitters and What Do They Do?
Neuron cell close-up view
What Is an Axon?
Portrait of happy woman embracing girls at home
What Are Endorphins and Why’re They Important?
young woman working on laptop and taking notes
Glutamate: Function, Healthy Levels, and More
neurotransmitters in the synaptic gap
What Is Acetylcholine?
young boy in wheelchair
Types of Neuromuscular Disorders
Hispanic woman working in home office
Potential Causes of Involuntary Movements
Man looking through window
What Is Tardive Dystonia?
Senior woman helping husband climb staircase
What Is Pseudoparkinsonism?
woman with headache holding her head
What Are the Different Types of Encephalitis?
Doctor talking to patient in examination room
What Is Meningococcal Disease?
Elderly asian woman holding temples of her head with eyes closed
Encephalitis vs. Meningitis
Doctor viewing CT scan result of brain on digital tablet for abnormalities
The Differences Between Encephalopathy and Encephalitis
a man holding his head in pain
Meningococcal Septicaemia: Symptoms and Treatment
Caucasian patient lying on scanner table
What Is a Brain Infection?
aneurysm
What Is an Aneurysm?
Brain lesions can often be detected with brain imaging studies
What to Expect When You Have a Brain Lesion
Oxytocin Increases With Parental Bonding
Oxytocin: Hormone of Labor, Love, and More
Dopaminergic neuron primarily responds to dopamine
Dopamine: What It Does for You and Related Conditions
Wine glasses and bottles
What Is Alcohol?
Examining a brain scan
What You Should Know About Empty Sella Syndrome
Brain doctor talking to chlid and mother
Craniopharyngioma: A Rare Brain Tumor
A doctor viewing a scan of the human brain
How the BRAIN Initiative Project Hopes to Advance Neuroscience
Two brains in communication
How We Socialize as Humans Is Caused by Our Brain Structure
Woman's feet in pink socks sticking out from under a blanket
Paresthesia: Why Your Body Parts Tingle and Fall Asleep
Brain scan images captured via MRI.
You Can Still Have Seizures Without Having Epilepsy
Patient with a respiratory mask on operating table
All About General Anesthesia
Doctor reviewing brain MRI with patient
The Responsive Neurostimulation System Controls Epilepsy Seizures
Daith Piercing as a Controversial, Alternative Migraine Therapy
Why a Daith Piercing Won't Help Your Migraine
I hope this works
Can Sumatriptan Soothe Your Migraine?
Newborn with Mom in NICU
Ins and Outs of a Rare Genetic Condition: Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia
Serious doctor examining brain scan
What Is a Neurologist?
Pediatrician checking reflexes of girl in examination room
Your Body's Automatic Responses and Why Doctor's Test Them
Brain x-ray with neurons
What Are NMDA Receptors & What Is Their Role in Disease?
Advanced contemporary intensive treatment
This Is Why Neuro-ICUs Are Totally Unique
Couple embracing
Love Can Be Explained by Studying the Brain
illustration of the brain
How You Can Prevent the Hippocampus From Shrinking
Serious neurologist discusses MRI scan with patient
A Neurological Explanation of Our Consciousness
Female patient having eye tested in hospital
Shrunken Pupil and Drooping Eyelid: Might Be Horner Syndrome
Brain and Nerve Cells
What You Need to Know About the Nervous System
Baby test
What You Should Know About Dravet Syndrome
Girl with Rett Syndrome
Rett Syndrome and How to Treat it
Cerebrospinal fluid, artwork
Connecting the Spinal Cord and Motor Neuron Diseases
Glial cells illustration
What Are Glial Cells and What Do They Do?