Psychology 1000 Chapter 3 : Chapter 3 - Biological Foundations of Behaviour

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Laura Fazakas- De Hoog

Document Summary

Thursday, september 24, 2015. Collect messages from neighboring neurons and send them to the cell body. Conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands. Prevents many substances, including toxins from entering the brain. At rest neuron has an electrical resting potential due to the distribution of positively and negatively charged chemicals (ions) inside and outside the neuron. When stimulated, a flow of ions in and out through the cell membrane reverses the electrical charge of the resting potential, producing an action potential, or nerve impulse. The original distribution of ions is restored, and the neuron is again at rest. This shift from negative to positive voltage is called depolarization. The membrane momentarily moves from -70 millivolts to +40 millivolts. The membrane is not excitable and cannot generate another action potential. Action potentials occur at a uniform and maximum intensity, or they do not occur at all.