PS268 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Monoamine Neurotransmitter, Psychopathology
Document Summary
Glia: 10-50 times more glia cells than neurons, allow for communication with other cells: able to produce a blood-brain barrier, this is a semiperiable membrane that protects the brain from potentially dangerious toxic chemicals. A psychoactive drug must be able to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Only small lipophilic molecules can pass through the membrane. Neurons: responsible for analyzing and transmitting information: all have 4 defined regions, cell body, dendrites, an axon, presynaptic terminals, neuron send signals down the axon to synaptic terminals. Begins a chain of events that allows communication through the release of neurotransmitters. Action potentials occur as a result from the ion channels opening. Changes cause the cell to move away from its resting potential at -70mv to a more positive voltage. Cell membrane has an uneven distribution of ions between intracellular and extracellular: intracellular = (k+, extracellular = (na+) and (cl-) ***refer to pg 67- 68 for more info/ pictures.
