nerve center

/ˌnʌrv ˈsɛntər/

Other forms: nerve centers

Definitions of nerve center

1. noun

   a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process
   synonyms: center, centre, nerve centre

   types:

   auditory center

   the part of the brain (in a fold of the cerebral cortex of the temporal lobe on both sides of the brain) that receives impulses from the ear by way of the auditory nerve

   olfactory brain, rhinencephalon

   a center in the cerebral hemispheres that governs the sense of smell in lower animals; in humans it seems to mediate complex emotional behavior

   Broca's area, Broca's center, Broca's convolution, Broca's gyrus, convolution of Broca

   the motor speech center in the left hemisphere of the brain in most people

   Wernicke's area, Wernicke's center

   the auditory word center; located in the posterior part of the superior temporal convolution in most people

   superior colliculus

   an essential visual center between the retina and the striate cortex

   inferior colliculus

   an essential auditory center in the midbrain

   respiratory center

   the center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles

   type of:

   neural structure

   a structure that is part of the nervous system
2. noun

   a center that provides information and control
   “the nerve center of the diamond industry is in Amsterdam”

   synonyms: nerve centre

   type of:

   center, centre

   a place where some particular activity is concentrated