PSYC2274 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Diffuse Reflection, Retina, Photon
Document Summary
1: ionic basis of resting potential, concentrated in gradient/ion channels, na+ channels can be gated, aps are electrical pulses. Synapses carry essentially one-way transmission (for our purposes) They can be either excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory: the release of nt produces depolarization of postsynaptic neuron, makes postsynaptic aps more likely/frequent. Inhibitory: effect of release of nt is to hyperpolarize the neuron, driving membrane potential further from ap threshold. A given nt can be in some synapses an excited, while other an inhibitory depends on how postsynaptic transmitters respond to it. In the end, it is the receptor type that matters! So type of synapse is determined by the combination of neurotransmitter and the postsynaptic receptor (more than one receptor type per nt). Most drugs that target the nervous system modify synaptic transmission. Light is the term we use for the part of the electromagnetic spectrum we perceive/see. Color is not a real thing! (microwaves are not colorless )
