PSYC 11762 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Excitatory Synapse, Axon Terminal, Membrane Potential
20 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Electrochemical transmission- communication form nerve cell to nerve cell. Neurons do not touch: communicate over synaptic gap. Synaptic transmission- transferring information to neurons across the synapse: dendrites convert to electrical signals to. How does a neuron generate electricity: already electrically charged particles in the body, ions. Axon- na and cl outside, k and protein inside: outside charge is more positive than inside, inside is more negatively charged. Membrane potential- difference in charge (voltage) across the cell membrane: 70 mv, membrane separates positive and negative charges creating a battery. Threshold- minimum amount of stimulation necessary to open channels and trigger the neural impulse. Electrical impulse- down axon to terminal buttons: na in, k out. Action potential- brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon. Sodium potassium pump- pump sodium out and potassium into axon: transporters. Refractory period- after a neuron fires it can"t fire again until the sodium potassium pumps have reset it.
