PSYCH 112 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Curare, Astrocyte, Myelin
Document Summary
Two types of cells: glia and neurons. Soma: from soma extrude two types of processes, dendrites and axon. Dendrites: densely branching structures that stick out from cell membrane, covered with chemical receptors, serve as antennae for detecting signals released from other neurons. Myelin sheath: causes axon to conduct electrical signals much faster and more accurately than it would if it were unmyelinated. Hodgkin-huxley model (ion exchange model): regards transmission of an action potential down an axon as the conduction of an electrical charge. Voltage: difference between the charge inside the cell membrane and the charge outside the cell membrane. Resting potential: resting state (most neurons voltage -70 mv. Action potential: active state when inside of cell membrane becomes positive relative to the outside unstable and inherent potential for change. Refractory period: recovery phase when the neuron signals periodically and limit to the maximum frequency of a neuron"s signals.
