PSB 4002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Myelin, Neuroglia, Peripheral Nervous System

• School: FGCU
• Department: Psychobiology
• Course: PSB 4002
• Professor: Christopher DiMattina

Document Summary

A single neuron is a simple device which indicates whether its inputs from sensory receptors or other neurons are strong enough for it to generate its own electrical signal, known as an action potential. By connecting neurons via synaptic connections into complex neural networks, nervous systems can perform very complex information processing using simple computational elements. Signaling within a neuron is accomplished via the flow of electrical information from the dendrites to the soma to the axon. By contrast, signaling between neurons is accomplished using chemical signals released at synapses when an action potential travels down the axon to the synaptic terminal. Neurotransmitters are stored in the presynaptic neuron in small compartments known as vesicles. When an action potential travels down the axon and reaches the synaptic terminal, these vesicles fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. The transmitter diffuses across the cleft and binds to receptors in the postsynaptic membrane.