December 2019 archive

Neuron Communication – Psych 12

Neuron Structure

  • Neurons are cells that transmit information
  • They are composed of the cell body, dendrites, and axon
  • Dendrites : receive information from other neurons and sensory receptors
  • Nucleus : provides energy fo the Neuron to carry out its d’unions
  • Cell body : support the cell’s life support centre
  • Axon : carries neuron’s message to other body areas
  • Myelin sheath : covers the axon of some neurons and hell’s speed neural impulses
  • Terminal branches of axon : form junctions with other cells

Neuron Function

Action potential

  • The electrical charge that travels down an axon, caused by the movement of positive ions in and out
  • Revisiting potential is when more positive ions are on the outside
  • Depolarization is an incoming message that stimulates a section of he axon
  • The flow of depolarization is the sequential depolarization and repolarization which causes action potential to move continuously down the axon

Synapse Structure

  • A synapse includes the tips of terminal branches of axon, the tiny space between neurons and the ends of dendrites of receiving Neuron

 

Synapse Function

  • When a signal gets to the end of the axon, the chemical signal is sent to the next Neuron in the network
  • Axon terminal button : produces NT, stores NT in synaptic vesicles, recycle NT building blocks
  • Action potential reaches axon terminal
  • Action Potential causes synaptic vesicles to release NT in synaptic gap
  • NT diffuses through the gap and binds to receptors on receiving Neuron

 

  • NT message is received as inhibitory or excitatory which will either stimulate AP on receiving Neuron (excitatory) or respires the AP on receiving Neuron (inhibitory)