Psychology Nervous System:

Peripheral Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that includes all nerves lying outside the brain and spinal cord.

Glia

Cells in the nervous system that support neurons by supplying nutrients and removing waste.

Dendrites

Parts of a neuron specialized to receive information.

Myelin Sheath

A white fatty substance wrapped around axons that insulates them and speeds up signal transmission.

Synapse

The junction where information is passed from one neuron to another or to another cell.

Action Potential

A brief change in a neuron's electrical charge that triggers a neural impulse.

Absolute Refractory Period

The minimum period after an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire again.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released at synapses that transmit signals between neurons.

Presynaptic Neuron

The neuron that sends a signal across the synaptic cleft to another neuron.

Postsynaptic Neuron

The neuron that receives the signal from the presynaptic neuron.