Cognitive neuroscience summary chapter 2 Gazzaniga

Cognitive neuroscience summary chapter 2 Gazzaniga Glial Cells - answerNonneural cells that serve various functions in the nervous system, including providing structural support and electrical insulation to neurons and modulating neuronal activity. Soma - answerThe cell body of a neuron. Neuron - answerThe basic signaling units that transmit information throughout the neevous system. Dendrites - answerBranching extensions of the neuron that recieve imputs from other neurons. They take many varied and complex forms depending on the type and location of the neuron. Many also have spines. Spines - answerSpecialized processes of dendrites that are little knobs attached by small necks to the surface of the dendrites, where the dendrites receive inputs from other neurons. Synapses are located on these. Axon - answerA single process that extends from the cell body. It represents the output side of the neuron. Electric signals travel along its length to the axon terminals, where the neuron transmits the signal to other neurons or cell types. Synapse - answerA specialized structure where two neurons come into close contact so that the chemical or electrical signals can be passed from one cell to the next. Axon Collaterals - answerBranches off an axon that can transmit signals to more than one cell. Myelin - answerA fatty substance that surrounds the axons of many neurons and increases the effective membrane resistance, helping to speed the conduction of action potentials. Nodes of Ranvier - answerEvenly spaced gaps in the myelin along the length of the axons. An action potential can be generated here.