PSY 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Axon Terminal, Neurotransmission, Oligodendrocyte

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 105
• Professor: William Huggon

Document Summary

~ 86 billion neurons, with 160 billion connections. Branchlike extension that receive information from other neurons. Tails of the neuron that spread out from the cell body and transit information: axon terminal. End of the axon containing synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitters: nts. Chemical messengers that allow neuron to neuron communication. Glial wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron"s signal. Neurons respond to nts by generating electrical activity. Resting potential: when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited. Action potential: electrical impulse that travels down the axon (triggers release of neurotransmitters) In between firings, there is a brief absolute refractory period. The longer the axon, the more limited their maximal firing rate is. When nts are released, they bind with receptor sites of next neuron (electrical) This process is halted by reuptake, when nts go back into the axon terminal. Some nts excite while others inhibit the nervous system.