PSYC1020 Lecture 5: 5A Synapses and neural integration
Document Summary
Action potential, electrical signal from axon hillock, along axon, to pre-synaptic ax terminal. Neural communication is like a very simple circuit. Joins cell membrane wall to release neurotransmitter into synaptic cleft. Recycled: neurotransmitter taken back into pre-synaptic terminal is repackaged. "activates" receptor to open ion channels on post-synaptic neuron. Transmits signal by opening ion channels and changing membrane potential on p synaptic neuron. Each receptor only binds to a specific type of neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters only "activate" their specific type f receptor. Important for drug effects - drugs can act on specific receptors to cause sp effects (eg. l-dopa for parkinson"s disease replaces dopamine in the brain. "clears" neurotransmitter from synaptic cleft back into pre-synaptic terminal aged into vesicles on post- e specific rain) "clears" neurotransmitter from synaptic cleft back into pre-synaptic terminal. Both re-uptake pump and enzymes stop neurotransmitter signalling to post-synaptic neuron iron channels (when neurotransmitter is gone) and turns off the signal.
