PSYC100 Chapter 3: Biological Aspects of Psychology

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC100
• Professor: Quinn Paul

Document Summary

Santiago ramon y cajal argued that separate cells (neurons) make up the nervous system. Glial cells: cells in nervous system that hold neurons together and help them communicate: without them, neurons could not function. Special features of neurons that enable them to communicate signals efficiently (1) structure - long, thin fibers that extend outward from cell body. Axons: fibers that carry signals from body of neuron out to where communication occurs with other neurons. Dendrites: fibers that receive signals from axons of other neurons and carry those signals to the cell body (2) surface membrane (3) synapses: tiny gaps b/w neurons across which they communicate. Action potential: abrupt wave of electrochemical changes traveling down an axon when a neuron becomes depolarized: myelin: fatty substance that wraps around some axons and increases the speed of action potentials. Refractory period: short rest period between action potentials.