PSYC 1001 Chapter 3: ch 3 - the biological bases of behavior

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1001
• Professor: Peter Aubin

Document Summary

Glia: cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons. The neural impulse: using energy to send information: the neuron at rest: a tiny battery. Resting potential of a neuron: it stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive: the action potential. Action potential: a very brief shift in a neuron"s electrical charge that travels along an axon. The synapse: where neurons meet: sending signals: chemicals as couriers. Synaptic cleft: microscopic gap b/w the terminal button of one neuron & the cell membrane of another neuron. Presynaptic neuron neuron that sends a signal across the gap. Postsynaptic neuron neuron that receives the signal. Neurotransmitters: chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another. Synaptic vesicles small sacs in which chemicals are stored: receiving signals: postsynaptic potentials. Postsynaptic potential (psp): voltage change @ a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.