Neurons, Neurotransmission and Communication
- Created by: meg_lou
- Created on: 13-04-17 14:16
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- Neurons, neurotransmission and communication
- Neurons
- What?
- Billions of neurons underlie activity
- Electrically excitable cells that process and transmit information around the nervous system
- Messages passed through dendrites via synapse
- Axons carry on ongoing messages and efficiency is increased when they are covered with a myelin sheath
- Neural Impulse
- More negative ions inside the membrane at RP
- Incoming message is strong and changes the electrical charge by neurons firing (AP)
- Refractory period is the recovery and the signal must be stronger than normal for AP
- Incoming message is strong and changes the electrical charge by neurons firing (AP)
- Refractory period is the recovery and the signal must be stronger than normal for AP
- More negative ions inside the membrane at RP
- Synaptic transmission
- 1. Action potential reaches axon terminal
- 2. Calcium channels open
- 3. Calcium ions (Ca2+) causes vesicles to release neurotransmitters
- 4. Neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to receptors
- 5. The signal in the post-synaptic neuron is triggered
- 4. Neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to receptors
- 3. Calcium ions (Ca2+) causes vesicles to release neurotransmitters
- 2. Calcium channels open
- 1. Action potential reaches axon terminal
- What?
- Neurotransmitters
- Acetylcholine(ACh)
- Muscle action, learning and memory
- Linked to AD - ACh producing neurons degenerate
- Dopamine
- Movement, learning, attention and emotion
- Excessive activity linked to SZ
- Diminished activity linked to PD
- Norepinephrine
- Alertness and arousal
- Lower levels can lower mood
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- Major inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Lower levels linked to seizures, tremors and insomnia
- Endorphins
- Perception of pain and pleasure
- Oversupply with opiate drugs can suppress it
- Serotonin
- Mood, hunger, sleep and arousal
- Lower levels linked to depression
- Glycine
- Inhibitory neurotransmitter found in spinal cord
- Acetylcholine(ACh)
- The Brain
- 90% of body's neurons
- Brain areas: forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain
- Midbrain sends and receives messages from/to the forebrain (visual and auditory)
- Oldest part is the medulla - breathing, heart rate, salivation and vomiting
- Pons connects the top of the brain to the cerebellum
- Chemicals produced there maintain our sleep-wake cycle
- Neurons
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