BIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR PSYCHOLOGY

BIOLOGOICAL BASIS FOR PSYCHOLOGY

NEURON STRUCTURE:

•  Cell Body/Nucleus/Soma- Gives the cell life (support structure)
•  Dendrites- RECEIVES the messages from the other cells
•  Axon- PASSES the messages from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands
• Myelin Sheath- Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

HOW A NEURON FIRES:

• It is considered to be an electrochemical process
•  There is electrical impulses inside the neuron
•  There are chemical impulses outside the neuron(inside the synapse in the form of a neurotransmitter)
• The firing is called "Action Potential"

THE "ALL OR NOTHING" RESPONSE:

•  The idea that a neuron either fires or it doesn't, there's no in between or half way.

STEPS OF "ACTION POTENTIAL":

•  First the dendrites receive neurotransmitters from another neuron across the synapse. Then it reaches its threshold and fires based on the all or none response. It then opens up a portal in axon, and lets in positive ions (Sodium) which mix with negative ions (potassium) that are already inside the axon (neurons at rest have a slightly negative charge) The mixing of + and - ions cause an electrical charge that opens up the next portal (letting in more K) while closing the original portal. The process then continues down axon to the axon terminal. The terminal buttons turns electrical charge into chemical (neurotransmitter) and shoots message to next neuron across the synapse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qS83wD29PY