PYC4813- NOTES | Adhila Gora
Cognitive- Neuropsychology 4813
Chapter 1- Notes
Nerve cells and Nerve impulse
There are 2 kinds of cells namely, Neurons and Glia.
NEURONS: receives information and transmit it to other cells.
GLIA: serves many functions in the brain
➢ The adult brain has about 86 billion neurons
➢ Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Charles Sherrington are known as the two main
founders of neuroscience.
The Structures of an Animal Cell
➢ The surface of a cell is its membrane or a plasma membrane
➢ Protein channels in this membrane permits the flow of water, oxygen, sodium,
potassium, and other important chemicals.
➢ THE NUCLEUS: is a structure that contains chromosomes.
Page 1 of 8
, PYC4813- NOTES | Adhila Gora
➢ MITOCHONDRIA: a structure that performs metabolic activities and provides
energy.
➢ People with overactive mitochondria tend to burn their fuel rapidly and
overheat, even in a cool environment.
➢ People whose mitochondria are less active than normal are predisposed to
depression and pains.
➢ Mutated mitochondrial genes are a possible cause of autism.
➢ RIBOSOMES: are the sites within a cell that synthesize new protein molecules.
➢ ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM: a network of thin tubes that transport newly
synthesized proteins to other location.
The Structure of a Neuron
➢ The most distinctive feature of neurons is their shape.
➢ Neurons have long branching extensions.
➢ All neurons include a soma (cell body), dendrites, an axon, and presynaptic
terminals
➢ MOTOR NEURON: with its soma in the spinal cord, receives excitation through
its dendrites and conducts impulses along its axon to a muscle
Page 2 of 8
Cognitive- Neuropsychology 4813
Chapter 1- Notes
Nerve cells and Nerve impulse
There are 2 kinds of cells namely, Neurons and Glia.
NEURONS: receives information and transmit it to other cells.
GLIA: serves many functions in the brain
➢ The adult brain has about 86 billion neurons
➢ Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Charles Sherrington are known as the two main
founders of neuroscience.
The Structures of an Animal Cell
➢ The surface of a cell is its membrane or a plasma membrane
➢ Protein channels in this membrane permits the flow of water, oxygen, sodium,
potassium, and other important chemicals.
➢ THE NUCLEUS: is a structure that contains chromosomes.
Page 1 of 8
, PYC4813- NOTES | Adhila Gora
➢ MITOCHONDRIA: a structure that performs metabolic activities and provides
energy.
➢ People with overactive mitochondria tend to burn their fuel rapidly and
overheat, even in a cool environment.
➢ People whose mitochondria are less active than normal are predisposed to
depression and pains.
➢ Mutated mitochondrial genes are a possible cause of autism.
➢ RIBOSOMES: are the sites within a cell that synthesize new protein molecules.
➢ ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM: a network of thin tubes that transport newly
synthesized proteins to other location.
The Structure of a Neuron
➢ The most distinctive feature of neurons is their shape.
➢ Neurons have long branching extensions.
➢ All neurons include a soma (cell body), dendrites, an axon, and presynaptic
terminals
➢ MOTOR NEURON: with its soma in the spinal cord, receives excitation through
its dendrites and conducts impulses along its axon to a muscle
Page 2 of 8
