PSYC 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Myelin, Mirror Neuron, Action Potential
Neurons
:
The
nerve
cells
,
basic
elements
of
the
nervous
system
Consists
of
a
cell
body
that
contains
a
nucleus
DISTINCTIVE
FEATURES
OF
NEURONS
Physically
held
in
place
by
glial
cells
which
:
'
Ability
to
communicate
w/
other
cells
-
Provide
nourishment
to
neurons
and
isolates
them
'
Transmission
of
info
across
relativly
long
distances
-
Help
repair
damage
-
Support
neural
functioning
STRUCTURE
OF
THE
NUE
RON
:
DENDRITE
:
Cluster
of
fibers
at
one
end
of
a
neuron
that
reaches
messages
from
other
nuerons
AXON
:
Part
of
the
neuron
that
carries
messages
destined
for
other
neurons
MYELIN
SHEATH
:
Protective
coat
of
fat
and
protein
that
wraps
around
the
axon
How
NUERONS
FIRE
:
-
All
or
nothing
law
-
neurons
are
either
on
or
off
-
Resting
state
-
Negative
electric
charge
within
the
riveron
-
ACTION
POTENTIAL
-
An
electric
nerve
impulse
that
travels
through
a
neuron
,
changing
the
cell
's
charge
from
-0
to
a
⊕
The
speed
of
action
potential
is
determined
by
the
:
-
axon
size
-
Thickness
of
the
myelin
sheath
Neurons
can
differ
in
terms
of
-
Quickness
of
an
impulse
(
myelin
sheath
)
moving
along
the
axon
-
Potential
rate
of
firing
Intensity
of
a
stimulus
determines
how
much
of
a
neurons
potential
firing
rate
is
reached
HOW
TO
SEND
MESSAGES
:
SPECIAL
NEURONS
:
SYNAPES
:
space
between
2
neurons
where
-
e
axon
of
a
sending
neuron
communicates
w/
the
dendrites
of
a
receiving
nueron
by
using
chemical
messages
Mirror
Neurons
-
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
:
Chemicals
that
carry
messages
across
the
synapse
to
the
dendrite
-
Enacts
a
particular
behavior
(
and
sometimes
cell
body
)
of
a
reliever
neuron
•
Observes
another
individual
Not
every
neuron
is
capable
of
recieving
chemical
carrying
out
the
same
behavior
messages
when
carried
by
neurotransmitter
.
In
order
to
relieve
'
Helps
explain
how
/
why
messages
,
the
neurotransmitter
must
fit
precisely
inside
the
people
have
capacity
to
understand
other
's
intentions
receptor
site
.
-
According
to
research
,
mirror
neurons
are
found
to
help
TYPES
OF
CHEMICAL
MESSAGES
:
Empathy
Excitatory
messages
:
Makes
it
more
likely
that
a
relieving
neuron
will
fire
Development
of
language
and
an
action
potential
will
travel
down
the
axon
Inhibitory
Messages
:
Prevents
or
decreases
the
likelihood
that
a
relieving
neuron
will
fire
Document Summary
Physically held in place by glial cells which : that contains a nucleus. Provide nourishment to neurons and isolates them. " transmission of info across relativly long distances. Dendrite : cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that reaches messages from other nuerons. Part of the neuron that carries messages destined for other neurons. Myelin sheath : protective coat of fat and protein that wraps around the axon. All or nothing law - neurons are either on or off. Resting state - negative electric charge within the riveron. Action potential - an electric nerve impulse that travels through a neuron changing the cell"s charge from -0 to a . The speed of action potential is determined by the : Quickness of an impulse (myelin sheath) moving along the axon. Intensity of a stimulus determines how much of a neurons potential firing rate is reached.
