PSYCH 120A Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Corpus Callosum, Axon Terminal, Anatomical Terminology
Document Summary
Cell body: contains the nucleus and cellular machinery. Process info by electric impulses that travel down the axon. Input to dendrites reaches a threshold level neuron fires. Action potential propagates along axon due to entry and exit of ions through channels in the cell membrane. Action potential reaches axon terminal release of neurotransmitters into synapse. Synapse: pace where axon terminal contacts the dendrite. Each neuron has ~1,000 - 10,000 synapses. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic dendrite and influence its activation state. Input decision making (all or none) transmit within neuron transmit across neuron. Axons are covered with myelin which insulates and increases the speed of conduction. Grey matter: contains the cell bodies of neurons. Associated cortices have higher processing of primary sensory cortices. Motor cortex: output; send signals to body. Corpus callosum: major white matter pathway that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. Right damage: captures details but not global image.
