brain & lang ch 1: the human brain

Neurons

the most basic signaling unit of the brain and nervous system

What are all the parts of a Neuron?

soma (cell body), axon, dendrites, myelin sheaths, nodes of Ranvier, terminal buttons

Axon

The “tail” of the nueron cell. Its a long segment that splits towards the end, which transmits signals to other neurons.

Dendrite

The “branches” attached to the cell body. Receive signals from may other cells.

Soma

the cell body, where the nucleus is located

Signal summation

the concept that the if enough dendritic inputs accumulate, and action potential will be initiated at the base (hillock) of the axon

action potential

an electrical current that travels down the axon; follows a tall or nothing threshold process

Synapse

The small gap between an axon and a dendrite through which neurotransmitters flow across it

Myelin sheath

fatty substance that covers the end of the axon, which helps the electrical signal to travel smoothly and faster along it

terminal buttons

the endpoints of the axons where neurotransmitters are released

Hierarchal representation

theory which explains that neurons that represent basic features project to “conjunctive” neurons that represent increasingly complex stimulus. Botton-up process