PSYC121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential, Action Potential, Astrocyte
Document Summary
Lecture 9 - the nervous system and its role in behaviour. Ion - an atom or small molecule that carries an electrical charge. The nervous system directly controls all of our behaviour and thoughts. Basic physiology: elementary building block - the neuron, the axon, the action potential, the synapse, glia. A nerve is a bundle of nerve fibres or axons. Axons are part of nerve cells or neurons. Types of neurons: sensory - transmits information from receptors to the brain, motor neurons - transmit commands from interneurons to the glands and muscles of the. Interneurons - nerve cells that connect other neurons with one another body. The action potential / firing of the neuron. An action potential is a rapid rise from the resting potential (-70 mv) to peak potential of + 40mv, followed by a return to resting potential. Action potential travels along the axon as a cascade of opening and closing of ion channels.
