Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Master Control, Living Brain, Socalled

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

Document Summary

Neurons: specialized cells that are the basic building blocks of the nervous system. These nerve cells are linked together in circuits, not unlike the electrical circuits in a computer. Each neuron has three main parts: cell body, dendrites and an axon. Cell body or soma contains biochemical structures needed to keep neuron alive. Their nucleus carries the genetic information that determines how the cell develops and functions. Dendrites are branch like fibres that are specialized receiving units like antennas that collect messages from neighbouring neurons and send them to the cell body electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles or glands. The axon which extends from one side of the cell body, conducts. Axon branches out at the end to form axon terminals. Neurons can vary is size and shape. Neurons are supported in their actions by glial cells.