Neurotransmitters

Dendrites, axons and synapses grow and change throughout a person’s life.

Dendrites grow to increase the area for synapses to be created as more learning is happening and memories are formed.

This is known a neuron plasticity or brain plasticity

A stimulated mind (engaging in mental activities, e.g. reading, stimulating environments, etc.) helps us grow more dendrites.

Neurons are the cells that make-up nerves. Neurons send messages electro-chemically around the body.

The axon terminals of one neuron, connects to the dendrite of another neuron but do not touch.

Within neurons, messages travel as electrical impulses from the dendrites, through the cell body to the axon.

•The myelin sheath insulates the axon and ensures the impulse is directed to the end of the axon.

•The electrical impulse cannot cross the gap

•The message triggers the release of neurotransmitters

Between neurons, messages are transmitted chemically by neurotransmitters across the synapse (very tiny gap) from the axon terminals of the pre-synaptic neuron to the receptors on the other, post-synaptic neuron.

Neurotransmitters are the body’s natural chemical messengers.

Neurotransmitters released by the sending (pre-synaptic) neuron cause either an excitatory or inhibitory response of the receiving (post-synaptic) neuron.

•Excitatory neurotransmitters trigger a message to be sent along the next neuron.

•Inhibitory neurotransmitters slow down or stop activity.