PSY100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Dendrite, Autonomic Nervous System, Axon Hillock
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PSY100H1 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Humans have a much more developed frontal cortex. The brain develops in a way that resembles the evolution of the nervous system in animals over time. Not fully developed until 20-25 years of age. Neuron a cell that specializes in receiving and transmitting information (100 billion neurons in the human brain) neural communication: formed by glial cells. Dendrite: pick up chemical component from environment(receiver) Synapse: gap between dendrite and axon terminal. Squid axons being studied: hodgkin huscley 1952, binger than human axon. Sodium channels open and + ions rush in (making the cell potential slightly more +) If enough + charge builds up (i. e. , changing the membrane potential to -55mv) then action potential will be fired. Have to reach -55mv for a neuron to be fired. Action potential wave of electrical activity that originates at the axon hillock(end of soma that is connected to axon) and rapidly travels down the length of the axon.
