PSYC 1010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Autonomic Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Jennifer Steeves

Document Summary

Neurons are individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information. The soma, or cell body, contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cell: rest of neurons devoted to handling information. Dendrites are the parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information. The axon is a long, thin fibre that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands. The myelin sheath is insulating material, derived from glial cells, that encases some axons. End of axon = terminal buttons, which are small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters. The points at which neurons interconnect are called synapses. A synapse is a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another. The neural impulse: using energy to send information. Neurons contain electrically charged atoms and molecules called ions. The resting potential of a neuron is its stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive.