GERO 315g Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Frontal Lobe, Long-Term Potentiation, Epithelium
Document Summary
Calcium - extremely small concentration inside the cell, really high concentration outside the cell (the driving force) - difference allows for triggering various neuron signals. Vital that calcium concentration be maintained - mismanagement of calcium can cause a variety of issues (epilepsy, cell death) Calcium enters the pre-synaptic terminal, allowing it to fuse with the post-synaptic terminal - releases acetylcholine that binds to the receptor - lets in sodium - post synaptic cell de-polarizes and the ap continues along the terminals. Use atp to move sodium from the inside to the outside of the cell b/c it"s going against it"s chemical gradient. Voltage only determines whether or not the gate is going to be opened or not - flow of ions determines which way the ions flow in. Calcium on the post-synaptic side which modifies your dendrites. Synapses - process of learning and memory in the brain.
