Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective
● The Nervous System is an extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all
parts of the body.
● Neuroscience deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue
○ Relationship to behavior and learning
● Parts of a Neuron
Glial Cells
● Provide support for neurons to grow
● Deliver nutrients to neurons
● Produce myelin to coat axons
Myelin
● Fatty substances that coat axons and
insulate and protect neurons as well as
speed up neural impulse
● Clean up waste products and dead
neurons
Ions
● Negatively charged when inside but
positively charged when outside of neuron
● Resting potential: state of neuron when
nothing is happening
● Action Potential: Release of neural
impulse which reverses the negative charge in axon which allows positive sodium ions to enter the cell
● All-or-none: Neuron either fires or it doesn’t
● The Neural Impulse Action Potential
○
NEUROTRANSMISSION
● Synapse/Synaptic Gap
○ Microscopic fluid-filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of
one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
● Receptor Sites
○ Holes in the surface of dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to
fit only certain neurotransmitters
● Neurons must be turned on and off
○ Excitatory neurotransmitter: “fire”; Neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to fire
○ Inhibitory neurotransmitter: stop; Neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to stop firing
● Agonists: Mimic or enhance effects
● Antagonists: Block or reduce reactions
Cleaning up the Synapse
● Reuptake: Process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles
● Enzymes: Complex protein that is manufactured by cells
● The Nervous System is an extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all
parts of the body.
● Neuroscience deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue
○ Relationship to behavior and learning
● Parts of a Neuron
Glial Cells
● Provide support for neurons to grow
● Deliver nutrients to neurons
● Produce myelin to coat axons
Myelin
● Fatty substances that coat axons and
insulate and protect neurons as well as
speed up neural impulse
● Clean up waste products and dead
neurons
Ions
● Negatively charged when inside but
positively charged when outside of neuron
● Resting potential: state of neuron when
nothing is happening
● Action Potential: Release of neural
impulse which reverses the negative charge in axon which allows positive sodium ions to enter the cell
● All-or-none: Neuron either fires or it doesn’t
● The Neural Impulse Action Potential
○
NEUROTRANSMISSION
● Synapse/Synaptic Gap
○ Microscopic fluid-filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of
one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
● Receptor Sites
○ Holes in the surface of dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to
fit only certain neurotransmitters
● Neurons must be turned on and off
○ Excitatory neurotransmitter: “fire”; Neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to fire
○ Inhibitory neurotransmitter: stop; Neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to stop firing
● Agonists: Mimic or enhance effects
● Antagonists: Block or reduce reactions
Cleaning up the Synapse
● Reuptake: Process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles
● Enzymes: Complex protein that is manufactured by cells
