Biological Psychology and Neurotransmission

Neurotransmitter

________: Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.

Refractory Period

________: In Neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials can not occur until the axon returns to its resting state.

Synapse

________: The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

Myelin Sheath

________: a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.

Greek physician

________ Hippocrates correctly located the mind in the brain.

Neurons

________ are so complicated and intricate that even with a microscope you would have trouble seeing where one ends and another begins.

Reuptake

________: A neurotransmitters re- absorption by the sending neuron.

Antagonists

________: A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action.

Dendrites

________: a neurons often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body.

Axon

________: the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscle glands.

Threshold

________: The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Neuron

________: A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

Cell body

________: the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cells life support center.

Neurons

________ transmit messages when stimulated by our senses or neighboring neurons.

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Cell body

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cells life support center

Dendrites

a neurons often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

Axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscle glands

Myelin Sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

Glial Cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

Action Potential

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Refractory Period

In Neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

Synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

Reuptake

A neurotransmitters re-absorption by the sending neuron

Antagonists

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action