PSY-2012 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Temporal Lobe, Executive Functions, Psych
Document Summary
Biological levels of analysis: neuro. /physio. , neurochemical, and molecular. 85 billion neurons in the average human brain: roughly 160 trillion connections exist between them. Glial cells: supporting cells (glial means glue) that are plentiful in the brain (roughly 1:1 ratio with neurons) Oligodendrocytes- promotes new neural connections, produces myelin sheath for cns neurons, allows acceleration. Dendrites- root like structures: receives chemical signals (neurotransmitters) Electrical signal goes down the axon after receiving the chemical signals from dendrites. Axon terminals- releases chemical signal (neurotransmitters) into the synaptic cleft onto the next neuron. Neurotransmission- communication between neurons is chemical via neurotransmitters. They bind with receptor sites of the next neuron. Neurotransmission- this process is halted by reuptake, when neurotransmitters go back into the axon terminal. Types of neurotransmitters: gaba- inhibitory neurotransmitter- decreases the chance neurons will communicate (telling the neuron to stop functioning, glutamate- excitatory neurotransmitter- increases the chance neurons will communicate.
