Neuron Basics
Approximately how many neurons are in the brain?
About 85 billion!
What are neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that neurons use to transmit information
What is the center of a neuron?
The center of the neuron is the cell body.
What is a synapse?
A synapse is the space between 2 neurons.
Do neurons use chemical signals to communicate, or electrical signals--or both?
Both!
What type of cell is a neuron?
A nerve cell.
What are are dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, and glutamate?
All are examples of neurotransmitters necessary for typical brain function.
What part of neuron receives neurotransmitters?
Dendrites receive neurotransmitters.
What is another name for the neuron that sends neurotransmitters?
The neuron that sends neurotransmitters is also called the presynaptic neuron.
What happens when a neuron is excited by an electrical signal?
When a neuron is excited by an electrical signal, it causes the release of neurotransmitters from the sending (presynaptic) neuron.
Besides the brain, where can you find neurons?
In the spine and nervous sytem.
What part of the neuron receives neurotransmitters?
Dendrites receive neurotransmitters.
Where do the dendrites send the information from the neurotransmitters they receive?
Dendrites send the information from the neurotransmitters they receive to the axon.
What is another name for the neuron that receives neurotransmitters?
The neuron that receives neurotransmitters is also called the presynaptic neuron.
What happens when a presynaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters?
The neurotransmitters flood the space between neurons (AKA the synaptic cleft) and are received by the postsynaptic neuron.
What do dendrites look like?
What can happen when dendrites receive a neurotransmitter?
When dendrites receive neurotransmitters it can trigger an electrical change in the neuron.
What happens when strong signals reach the end of the axon (the axon terminals)?
When strong signals reach the axon terminals they release neurotransmitters.
What is an action potential?
An action potential is an electrical signal that triggers the release of neurotransmitters.
What happens when a postsynaptic neuron receives neurotransmitters?
When a postsynaptic neuron receives neurotransmitters it can trigger an electrical signal, which causes the neuron to release neurotransmitters to other neurons.
What do dendrites do?
Dendrites are where neurons receive most of their information.
If a neurotransmitter triggers an electrical signal in a neuron, what can happen next?
Next the neuron will release its own neurotransmitters, which will pass the signal to a neighboring neuron.
What is myelin?
Myelin covers the axons and helps prevent the electrical signals from degrading.
What is the name of the place where 2 neurons touch?
Trick question! Neurons don't touch--they are separated by the synaptic cleft.
What happens to neurotransmitters left over in the space between neurons?
They either drift away (diffusion) or are re-absorbed and reused by the sending neuron.