Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Social Darwinism, Master Control, Heredity

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

The neural bases of behaviour to understand how the brain controls our experience and behaviour, we must understand how its individual cells function and how they communicate with one another. Ap obeys the all-or-none law; it either occurs at maximum intensity or it does not occur at all graded potentials change membrane potential by acting on ion channels. Synaptic transmission communicate (neurons) at a synapse, a functional (but not physical) connection between a neuron and its target. Neurotransmitters neurons produce neurotransmitters, chemical substances that carry messages across the synapse to either excite other neurons or inhibit their firing. Excitatory nt depolarizes membrane increases chance of ap. 2 effects mimic transmitter or have no effect other than blocking. Specialized transmitter system acetylcholine (ach) excitatory transmitter at the synapses where neurons activate the muscle cell. Dopamine enhances and inhibits serotonin influences mood, eating, sleeping and sexual behaviour endorphins reduce pain and increase feelings of well-being.