PSYC1002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Diazepam, Caffeine, Morphine

• School: University of Sydney
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC1002
• Professor: Caleb Owens

Document Summary

Propagation of action potential: ap is localised to small segment of membrane and spreads along membrane, hyperpolarisation after ap prevents it from moving back onto itself. Myelin: prevents depolarisation, depolarisation can occur only at gaps between myelin sheath, myelin speeds up propagation of action potential. Neural function: neurons are digital, can convey only one but of information at a time (on vs. off, sophistication of brain due to. Complexity of connections between neurons (circuitry: certain drugs work by interfering with action potentials. E. g. anaesthetics penetrate neuronal membrane and block opening of ion channels. How do neurons interact: neurons form small junctions called synapses, communicate across synapses. Chemical synapses: the vast majority of neurons communicate via chemical transmission across synapse. Neurotransmission: as action potential arrives at terminal of 1st neuron, specialised chemicals called neurotransmitters released into synapse from terminal, neurotransmitters diffuse across synapse and bind to receptors on 2nd neuron.