PSYC62H3 Chapter 4: chapter 4
Document Summary
All thoughts, emotions, and behaviours occur because of chemical processes that occur in neurons. Each neuron has numerous excitatory and inhibitory inputs/synapses. Has extensions called dendrites (several) and axons (one) axon hillock: region where axon emerges from soma myelin sheath: coating around the axons (works like insulation) Gaps in myelin sheath where axons come into direct contact with ecf. Axon terminal: an enlargement at the branch of axons. 4 primary ions important for conduction: www. notesolution. com: sodium (na+, potassium (k+, chloride (cl -, calcium (ca 2+, large negatively charged protein molecules. Neuron can be in one of 2 states: polarized. More negative charged ions on the inside of the membrane than on the outside of the membrane: depolarized. Rapid exchange of ions across the neuron membrane. If stimulus causes neuron to hit threshold potential (around -60 mv), it triggers an action potential. Axon hillock is the decision maker in producing action potentials.
