Neurons and Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

Sensory Neuron

Answer 1

Conveys info about sensory stimuli: vision, touch, taste, etc, towards the brain

Question 2

Motor Neuron

Answer 2

convey instructions for physical operations: e.g release of hormones from glands, muscle movement, digestion

Question 3

Relay Neuron

Answer 3

connects different parts of the CNS

Question 4

Structure of a typical neuron

Answer 4

-Dendrites
-Nucleus
-Cell Body
-Axon
-Myelin Sheath
-Nodes of Ranvier
-Axon terminals

Question 5

Synaptic Gap

Answer 5

The gap separating one neuron from another

Question 6

Synaptic Transmission

Answer 6

-The action potential (an electrical impulse) triggers the synaptic vesicles of the pre-synaptic neuron to release neurotransmitters

-These neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic gap and bind to specialised receptor sites on the post-synpatic neuron

Question 7

Excitatory

Answer 7

Make a nerve impulse more likely to be triggered
E.g, dopamine or serotonin which produces states of excitement/activity in the nervous system and in our mental state/ behavior

Question 8

Inhibitory

Answer 8

Make a nerve impulse less likely to be triggered
E.g GABA calms activity in the nervous system and produces states of relaxation

Question 9

Summation

Answer 9

-Summation is the process that decides whether a postsynaptic neuron does fire

-The excitatory and inhibitory influences are summed. If the net effect on the postsynaptic neuron is inhibitory than its like likely to fire and the opposite for exhibitory

-The action potential of the postsynaptic neuron is only triggered if the sum of the excitatory and inhibitory signals reaches the threshold