neuron
n. countablen. a special cell in your brain and body that sends and receives messages using electricity.
n. an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.
The brain contains billions of neurons that communicate with each other.
When you touch a hot surface, sensory neurons send a fast signal to your brain to pull your hand away.
The complex architecture of the human brain relies on the synaptic connections formed between neurons, which allow for the rapid integration of sensory data and cognitive processing.
From New Latin, from Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neûron, “nerve”), doublet of nerve and sinew. By surface analysis, neuro- + -on.
Commonly used in medical and biological contexts; often paired with 'sensory', 'motor', or 'mirror'.