PSYC 1001 SEMESTER II 2014- BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOUR
The Central Nervous System is composed entirely of two kinds of specialized
cells: Neurons and Glia.
Function of Glia cells- Glia are the cells that provide support to the neurons. In
much the same way that the foundation, framework, walls, and roof of a house prove
the structure through which run various electric, cable, and telephone lines, along with
various pipes for water and waste, not only do glia provide the structural
framework that allows networks of neurons to remain connected, they also attend to
the brain's various house-keeping functions (such as removing debris after neuronal
death).
Function of a Neuron is to receive INPUT "information" from other neurons, to
process that information, then to send "information" as OUTPUT to other neurons.
Neurons process all of the "information" that flows within, to, or out of the
CNS.
All of the motor information through which we are able to move
All of the sensory information through which we are able to see, to hear, to
smell, to taste, and to touch
All of the cognitive information through which we are able to reason, to think, to
dream, to plan, to remember, and to do everything else that we do with our
minds.
It is estimated that there are as many as 200 billion neurons in the brain alone.
Structure of the Neuron
Three kinds of neurons:
Motor (efferent) neurons (for conveying motor information AWAY from the
CNS to muscles or glands)
Sensory (afferent) neurons (for conveying sensory information TOWARD the
CNS)
Inter-neurons (which convey information between different types of neurons,
most are located in the CNS)
Cell body/soma- The largest portion of a neuron. It contains the nucleus.
Dendrite- Dendrites are the branch-like structures of neurons that extend from the cell
body (soma). The dendrites receive electrical and chemical signals from the axons of
other neurons. The signal always travels in the same direction - the signal comes into
the neuron through the dendrites, through the cell body (soma), to the axon, and then
out the terminal buttons to the dendrites of the next neuron. In this way, information
travels all around your body by going from neuron to neuron. ** Dendrites bring
information to the cell body
Axon- the long, slender projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses (action
potentials) away from the cell body to the axon terminals ** Axons take information
away from the cell body
Axon terminal- The somewhat enlarged ends of an axon, often club-shaped, by which
axons make synaptic contacts with other nerve cells and release neurotransmitter into
the synaptic cleft
Nodes of Ranvier: Nodes of ranvier are small spaces or gaps between the myelin
sheath (the fatty substance that coats the axon).
Neurotransmitter- neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages from one
nerve cell (neuron) to another. It is released by the presynaptic neuron into the
synaptic cleft
Synapse- A specialized structure or junction that allows cell to cell communication from
an axon terminal to another neuron. The synapse refers to the whole structure
including the tips (synaptic knob) while the cleft specifically refers to the gap between
them. (N.B. A synapse has 3 components: Presynaptic membrane, Synaptic cleft,
Postsynaptic membrane)
Synaptic Cleft- The small space/gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the
dendrite of another neuron in which a nerve impulse is transmitted by a
neurotransmitter.
Neuronal Communication
Incoming signals from other neurons are received through its dendrites.
The outgoing signal to other neurons flows along its axon to the axon
terminal to the synapse (the knob like structure on the end of the axon
terminal).
Communication of information between neurons is accomplished by movement of
chemicals (neurotransmitters) across a small gap called the synaptic cleft.
Information from one neuron flows to another neuron across this synaptic cleft.
**For communication between neurons to occur, an electrical impulse must
travel down an axon to the synaptic cleft.
Neurotransmitters from the presynaptic membrane then cross the synaptic
cleft where they may be accepted by the receptor cell of the next neuron located
on the postsynaptic membrane
To begin “firing” an action potential (nerve impulse/electrical signal) is
generated near the cell body portion of the axon. An action potential is an
electrical signal which then travels down the axon. The release of a
neurotransmitter is triggered by the arrival of a nerve impulse (or action
potential). (see previous bullet)
Resting Potential takes place when the cell hasn't fired for a certain amount of
time it is therefore considered to be at rest. The resting potential of a neuron is
approx. -70 mV
