Neurons and Synapses - BIOPSYCHOLOGY Flashcards
three main types of neuron
sensory, motor, relay
function of sensory neuron
RECEIVING information
function of motor neuron
TRANSMITTING information
function of relay neuron
for controlling muscles to respond
how do neurons carry information throughout the body
in electrical impulses
how is information received by neurons
by terminals and dendrites (parts of a nerve cell)
what does synaptic transmission mean
communication between neurons
where does synaptic transmission occur
at sites called synapses
what is the name of electrical messages used
action potentials
what is the name of chemical messages used
neurotransmitters
what are action potentials translated into
neurotransmitters
where are neurotransmitter messages interpreted
at receptors
what happens after the neurotransmitter message is interpreted
they’re added up to decide what the next neuron does
what is at the end of each dendrite
a presynaptic terminal (or axon terminal)
how is a synaptic gap ‘created’
the cell meets another dendrite or neuron cell
how is information passed across the synaptic gap
in the form of neurotransmitter diffusion
what is the process of information passing from neuron to neuron this way called
synaptic transmission
what are the two types of messages hormones carry
excitatory or inhibitory
what is the message that’s passed on after a synapse called
a postsynaptic potential
two types of postsynaptic potential
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) or inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
what happens if a neuron receives both excitatory and inhibitory signals
summation - the total number of each are added and the most powerful signal wins
what two types of summation are there
temporal or spatial
in what two forms are powerful signals for a neuron in
either lots of small signals happening at different synapses, or very quick firing of one presynaptic neuron
what is depolarisation
making the inside of the cell more similar to the environment (outside of cell)
what is repolarization
making the inside of the cell more different to the environment (outside of cell)
