PSYC 2380 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Axon Terminal, Vasopressin, Neuroglia
Document Summary
Humans maintain their internal environment within certain limits: examples: body temperature, water content, and glucose concentrations. Transferring information from one neuron to another at a synapse. Brief chain of events: resting potential is caused by an uneven distribution of ions, resulting in the hyperpolarization of a neuron. Ion channels open, which allows ions to move inside the cell making the cell depolarized. Nerve cells on the front lines, interacting with the external environment. Carries sensory information into the central nervous system, or c n s. Carries motor or movement information back out to the peripheral nerves. Has the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions. Monitors and controls the body"s internal environment and involuntary functions: examples: heart rate and blood pressure, many psychoactive drugs affect the brain and the autonomic nervous system simultaneously. Two branches often act in opposition: sympathetic branch, example: norepinephrine is involved in increasing heart rate, fight-or-flight response, parasympathetic branch, example: acetylcholine is involved in decreasing heart rate.