midbrain

American  

[mid-brayn] / ˈmɪdˌbreɪn /

noun

Anatomy.

1. the middle of the three primary divisions of the brain in the embryo of a vertebrate or the part of the adult brain derived from this tissue; mesencephalon.

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midbrain British  

/ ˈmɪdˌbreɪn /

noun

1. the nontechnical name for mesencephalon

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midbrain Scientific  

/ mĭd′brān′ /

1. The middle part of the vertebrate brain. In most animals except mammals, the midbrain processes sensory information. In mammals, it serves primarily to connect the forebrain with the hindbrain.

2. Compare forebrain hindbrain

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Etymology

Origin of midbrain

First recorded in 1870–75; mid- + brain

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

midbrain

Located in the midbrain, this region helps produce fast reactions to visual events, such as suddenly noticing something moving nearby.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

Says Westwater, "This could mean that this brain area, the dopaminergic midbrain, processes increased nutrients or calories of sweet flavors, which supports rodent work showing that this brain region is important for sugar seeking."

From Science Daily ● Apr. 9, 2026

Associative learning, which takes place in the midbrain, can be impaired in some cases of obesity as a result of poor signaling to the brain from the GLP-1 peptides in the intestine.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2025

Researchers then had the same bats repeat the task but with a critical auditory pathway in the midbrain temporarily blocked.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024

There were the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the forebrain, enormously developed and overhanging the cerebellum, or great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely covering the lobes of the midbrain.

From Byways of Ghost-Land by Elliott O'Donnell

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