Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Myelin, Neuroglia, Resting Potential

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Mike Atkinson

Document Summary

Neurons specialized cells in the brain that are the basic building blocks of the nervous system; connected in circuits. Can classify neurons by shape (bipolar, unipolar and multipolar) and by function (motor, sensory and inter) Many axons are covered by a myelin sheath, which is a fatty insulation layer derived from glial cells during development the sheath is interrupted at regular intervals by nodes of ranvier, where the sheath is thin or absent. The electrical conduction can skip from node to node, which accounts for really fast conduction in unmyelinated axons, the action potential travels down the axon like a burning fuse slower. Neurons perform two important functions generate electricity and release chemicals that allow. The electrical activity of neurons them to communicate with other neurons, and with muscles and glands. Process in detail: neurons are surrounded by body fluids and separated from this liquid by the cell membrane.