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)