PSYO 111 Midterm: Term Test 2 - Fall 2017

• School: UBC Okanagan, UBC OK
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYO 111
• Professor: Maya Libben

Document Summary

As potassium and sodium flow across a cell membrane they move the presynaptic neuron (sending neuron) from a resting potential to an action potential. Action potential travels down the length of the axon to the terminal buttons where it stimulates the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles into the synapse. Neurotransmitters float across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on a nearby dendrite of postsynaptic neuron (receiving neuron) A new electrical potential is initiated and the process continues. Neurotransmitter and receptor sites act like a lock and key system. Cells can specialize in what they do because the receptors are specialized as well in terms of what they can attach to. Involved in a number of functions including voluntary motor control, attention, learning, and memory: alzheimer"s: deterioration of ach producing neurons. Glutamate: major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in information transmission throughout the brain. Increases activation in different domains: too much glutamate results in seizures.