Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Myelin, Sympathetic Nervous System, Somatic Nervous System

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Neurons: basic building blocks of the nervous system. Are linked together in circuits unlike the electrical circuits in a computer. Cell body: contains the biochemical structures needed to keep the neuron alive. Its nucleus carries the genetic info that determines how the cell develops and functions. Emerging from the cell body are branch-like fibres called Dendrites: these specialized receiving units are like antennas that collect messages from neighbouring neurons and send them on to the cell body, there the incoming is combined and processed. Sudden reversal in the neurons membrane voltage during which the membrane voltage momentarily moves from -70 to +40 this shift is called depolarization. If graded potentials are not very strong, the neuron will be partially depolarized, but not enough to generate an action potential. If the graded potential is large enough to reach the action potential threshold the neuron discharges with an action potential.