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.
The happy faces lit up their temporal cortex and caudate nucleus, which are parts of the brain associated with higher cognitive and reward processing. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026 In the first, eight dogs viewed happy and neutral faces, and happy faces triggered a stronger response in a region of the right temporal cortex extending into the caudate nucleus. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 The caudate nucleus processes rewards and motivation and manages learning and memory. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 The scientists found their owners’ scent sparked activity in the caudate nucleus area of the brain, which is considered the brain’s reward system. — Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for caudate nucleus

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for caudate nucleus

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Browse Nearby Words

caudate
caudate nucleus
caudex
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Cite this Entry

“Caudate nucleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caudate%20nucleus. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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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