PSY-102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: The Nerves, Basal Ganglia, Midbrain
Document Summary
Study the relationship between the nervous system and behaviour. Neurons are brain cells, specialized in communication with each other. Approximately 100 billion neurons, with 160 billion connection between them. Cell body: centre of neuron builds new cell components. Dendrites: branchlike extension that receive information from other neurons. Axons: tails of the neuron that spread out from the cell body and transit information. Axon terminal: knob at the end of the axon containing synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters: chemical messengers that allow neuron to neuron communication. Synapse: space between neurons through which nts travel. Cells that are plentiful in the brain (1:1 ratio with neurons) Astrocytes: star shaped most abundant and increase reliability of neuronal transmission. Oligodendrocytes: promotes new connections and produce the myelin sheath around axons. Neurons respond to nts by generating electrical activity. Resting potential: when there are not nts acting on a neuron.
