PSY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Basal Ganglia, Cerebellum, Visual Cortex
6 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
The molecular structure of the neuron is where communication happens. Anatomy of the neuron dendrites: extensions that receive (absorb) information from other neighboring neurons and pass it onto the cell body (soma); collect information. Soma: integrates information from dendrites than pass it along the axon. If dendritic activity is large enough an electric action potential will be fired. Also involved in cell growth & maintenance. Axon terminals: where the main structure ends; smaller branches of the body. Axon buttons: extensions from main axon with know-life structures at the end. Synapse: terminal point of axon branch, which releases neurotransmitters; when one neuron meets another neuron. Synaptic cleft: space b/w 2 neurons in which chemicals (nts) are released. Neural messages are translated and transferred here. Resting potential: neuron has no active inputs from other neurons. Inside the neuron is -70mv more (-) than outside. Electrical charge difference across the neural membrane is -70mv.
