PSYC 211 Lecture 2: Week 2

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 211
• Professor: Yogita Chudasama

Document Summary

A synapse is a junction between the terminal button of the sending neuron and a portion of the dendritic membrane of the receiving neuron. Synaptic transmission is the transmission of messages from one neuron to another through a synapse. They attach to the presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. Synaptic cleft is the space between the pre- and postsynaptic membranes. It is filled with an extracellular fluid. (the gap) Presynaptic membrane is the membrane of the terminal button (the sending cell). Postsynaptic membrane is the membrane of the receiving cell either on the soma or the dendrite (receiving cell) The nature of potential will be determined by the type of ion channel. Sodium-potassium channels keep na influx of na+ causes a depolarization -excitatory postsynaptic potential (epsp) (excitatory because na+ rushes into the cell and is super happy) outside the cell.