PSYC 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Amygdala, Grey Matter, Reticular Formation

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: Benjamin Giguere

Document Summary

Module 3. 2 how the nervous system works: cell and neurotransmitters. Neurons: one of the major types of cells found in the nervous system, that are responsible for sending and receiving messages throughout the body. All neurons have a cell body (soma), the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus that houses the (cid:272)ell(cid:859)s ge(cid:374)eti(cid:272) (cid:373)aterial: genes synthesize proteins to allow the neuron to function. These genes can be influenced by the input coming from other cells. All-or-none principle, individual nerve cells fire at the same strength every time an action potential occurs. If the a(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s of a (cid:374)eurotra(cid:374)s(cid:373)itter (cid:272)ause the (cid:374)euro(cid:374)(cid:859)s (cid:373)e(cid:373)(cid:271)ra(cid:374)e pote(cid:374)tial to (cid:271)e(cid:272)o(cid:373)e less negative, it is referred to as excitatory because it has increased the probability that an action potential will occur in a given period of time. In contrary, it is referred to as inhibitory. Types of neurotransmitters: glutamate, most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brains of vertebrates.