Glossary

1. Atmospheric Pressure: The force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the air above that surface.
2. Autoclave: A strong, heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes using high pressures and temperatures, such as for steam sterilization.
3. Bed Nucleus Stria Terminalis (BSNT): Found in the limbic system, the stria terminalis is a structure in the brain made out of a band of fibers, which runs along the lateral margin of the ventricular surface of the thalamus until the ventral medial nucleus of the hypothalamus. The stria terminalis is a major output pathway of the amygdala. The activity of the BSNT correlates with anxiety in response to monitoring threats. Interestingly, the central subdivision of the BSNT is sexually dimorphic (meaning the BSNT has apparent differences, which are attributed to gender). It is twice as large in males and has twice as many somatostatin neurons in males than in females. It has been implicated in gender identity disorder, providing a neurological basis.
4. Cryostat: Device meant to maintain a low cryogenic temperature of samples mounted within.
5. Data Logger: Measures temperature and can allow us to determine a rat's internal body temperature once implanted. 
6. Habituation: Form of learning in which an organism decreases or ceases to respond to a stimulus after repeated presentations. 
7. Homeostasis: State of having an even internal temperature.
8. Immunohistochemistry: Process of detecting antigens in cells of a tissue section through a combination of anatomical, immunological and biochemical techniques. Identifying antigen-antibody interactions. 
9. Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS): A buffer solution (maintains pH level) used in biological research. It is a water-based salt solution containing sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium phosphate. Its pH is approximately 7.4.
10. Pre-optic Area (POA): Part of the anterior hypothalamus, the POA is responsible for thermoregulation. This area propagates stimuli to the heat-losing and heat-promoting centers of the hypothalamus. The POA contains neurons sensitive to subtle changes in core or hypothalamic temperature.
11. Relative Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air compared to what the air can "hold" at that temperature.
12. Solar Irradiation: The power per unit area produced by the Sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
13. Thermocouple: Detect ambient temperature. Found below the tracks and are stationed within the wall of the thermogradient, just above the black removable surface.
14. Thermogradient: Has six tracks; each track holds one rat. A rat is placed on a track, where the side by the heater and hot water bath (see below) is kept at a high temperature, while the other side by the cooling pump and cold water bath is kept at a low temperature. The middle of the track is kept at a thermoneutral temperature. 
15. Vasoconstriction: When a rat's temperature drops, its tail's blood vessels shrink in diameter in a process called vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow to the tail. 
16. Vasodilation: Process when a rat's temperature rises, inducing a rat's tail's blood vessels to expand, allowing for the flow of warm blood to the tail.
17. Vivarium: Where animals are hosted, fed, and watered.
18. Wet Bulb Temperature: Temperature that a sample of air would have if it were cooled to 100% relative humidity (saturation) by the evaporation of water into it, with the latent heat being supplied by the sample.
19. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature: Temperature as a person feels it is, accounting for position of the sun (to determine heat stress accurately), solar irradiation, as well as what type of area a person is in.