PSYC 301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Resting Potential, Excitotoxicity, Hydrophile
Document Summary
Changes in spine density + shape are reflective of pathological statements: e. g. excitotoxicity, e. g. A healthy neuron has a resting membrane potential (or membrane voltage), of between. 60 and -80 mv (the voltage inside the neuron is 60-80 mv less than the outside of the neuron. Inside of the cell is negatively charged in comparison to the outside of the cell : between -60 to -80 mv. Neuronal communication is chemical: primarily the result of two ions, sodium (na+) and potassium (k+, ions move into or out of the cell, but not freely. Neuronal communication is electrical: ions are positively and negatively charges (na+ and k+ are both positive, as they move into or out of cell, they change the potential (voltage) at the membrane. Ions want to flow from high to low concentration: things always want to diffuse out to a disorganized state, think of the second law of thermodynamics (the universe tends to move towards disorder)
