substantia nigra

noun

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sub·stan·tia ni·gra | \ səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ə-ˈnī-grə

How to pronounce substantia nigra (audio)

, -ˈni- \

plural substantiae nigrae\ səb-ˌstan(t)-chē-ˌē-ˈnī-(ˌ)grē

, -ˈni- \

Definition of substantia nigra

: a layer of deeply pigmented gray matter situated in the midbrain and containing the cell bodies of a tract of dopamine-producing nerve cells whose secretion tends to be deficient in Parkinson's disease

Examples of substantia nigra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In both situations, the neurons in the midbrain's substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area flared up in response to the images. — Rasha Aridi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Nov. 2020 As predicted, the area of the brain impacted—the substantia nigra—was the same when the subject was derived of food and derived of human contact. — Katherine Dunn, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2020 In 2016, Barrett reported that meaningful musical cues changed the activity of the substantia nigra, a reward processing center that makes the happy hormone dopamine. — Popular Science, 8 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'substantia nigra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Substantia nigra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substantia%20nigra. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.

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