Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Peripheral Nervous System, Axon Terminal, Action Potential

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

Document Summary

Brain is a grapefruit size, 3 lb mass of tissue made up of neurons. Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system. At birth out brains are made up of about 100 billion neurons: cerebral cortex: outer layer of the brain, connects to many other areas, frontal lobe: complex cognition, motor cortex, temporal lobe: auditory, language, occipital: visual, parietal: sensory. Neurons: neurons: basic building blocks of the nervous system, linked together in circuits. Receive, process, and send messages: glial cells: surround neurons and hold them in place, manufacture nutrient chemicals, form myelin sheath, absorb toxins and waste. A specialized barrier, the blood-brain barrier: prevents many substances, including a wide range of toxins from entering the brain. Release chemicals in order to communicate with other neurons, muscles, and glands. Chemical molecules (neurotransmitters) exit the terminal and attach to the adjacent dendrites. From one neuron to the next: synapse: greek word for gap.