PSYC 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Axon, Chemical Substance, Myelin

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: Lara Geniks

Document Summary

Neurons: one of the major types of cells found in the nervous system, that are responsible for sending and receiving messages through the body. -purpose: to spread messages by communicating with other neurons as a part of a network which leads to some form of behaviour. Cell body (soma): all neurons have a cell body. It contains the nucleus that houses all genetic material. Dendrites: small branches radiating from the cell body that receive messages from other cells and transmits those messages toward the rest of the cell. --purpose: receive electric messages from two basic forms called excitatory and inhibitory. Axon: transports information in the form of electrochemical reactions from the cell body to the end of the neuron. -purpose: conducts electrical impulses away from the neurons cell body. Neurotransmitters: the chemicals that function as messengers allowing neurons to communicate with each other. -purpose: they are what affect heart rate, sleep, appetite, mood and fear.