CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Brain Structure And Function, Myelin, Short-Term Memory

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Robert Reinhart

Document Summary

Nervous system is responsible for everything we think, fell, & do. Basic building block: receive & transmit info through nervous system. Communicate with other nerve cells through chemical signals. State of neuron dictated by balance between positive & negative ions within cell. Resting membrane potential: ratio of negative:positive ions is greater inside the neuron than outside. Action potential (neuron firing): increase in voltage that exceeds neuron"s firing threshold. Action potentials cause neurons to release chemicals called neurotransmitters from terminal buttons. Binding of a neurotransmitter with receptor produced either excitatory or inhibitory signal, telling receptor neuron to fire more or less. 2 types of tissue (1) gray matter: dendrites & cell bodies circuitry (2) white matter: myelinated axons wires connecting circuitry. Central nervous system: brain & spinal cord. Repays information to brain & motor signals away from brain. Basic programs of survival (breathing, heartbeat, etc) Damage can be fatal & disrupt core survival circuitry.