1 / 18

Understanding Neurons: Action Potentials, Synapses, and Neurotransmitters Explained

This overview covers the basic functional subdivisions of neurons, detailing how action potentials initiate, propagate, and integrate signals through synapses. Key excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and GABA, are highlighted, alongside their roles in brain function. The concept of synaptic plasticity, including habituation and long-term potentiation, is introduced, showcasing the dynamic nature of neural connections. Finally, references to the latest neuroscience resources and research are provided for further exploration of how neurons communicate and process information.

jaser
Download Presentation

Understanding Neurons: Action Potentials, Synapses, and Neurotransmitters Explained

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Start of Part 3 Eric W. Harris, PhD.

  2. Basic Functional Subdivision of Neurons But, of course, there are exceptions – e.g., action potentials can originate from axon terminals and “back propagate”

  3. “Integration” of excitatory inputs http://web.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/psy340_11S/lectures/psy340.03.1.synapse.outline.html

  4. Basic Functional Subdivision of Neurons But, of course, there are exceptions – e.g., action potentials can originate from axon terminals and “back propagate”

  5. How neurons send a signal – Pt. 1 The “Action Potential” • http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s1/chapter01.html

  6. Basic Functional Subdivision of Neurons But, of course, there are exceptions – e.g., action potentials can originate from axon terminals and “back propagate”

  7. How neurons send a signal – Part 2: Synaptic Transmission http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SynapseIllustration2.png

  8. Analogies of how neurons work

  9. Neurotransmitters • Glutamate, Aspartate - major excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain • GABA - major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain • Acetylcholine - many different actions in the brain; neuromuscular junction transmitter • Serotonin – many different actions; associated with mood, sleep, perception (LSD) • Dopamine – many different effects; associated with reward, attention, movement (PD) • Opioid peptides (endorphins) – modulate pain signals • Substance P – pain signaling • Many others…

  10. Summary of basic information processing in the brain Action Potential Synapse… Action Potential http://biomedicalengineering.yolasite.com/neurons.php

  11. But it’s not so simple - Excitation and Inhibition http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s1/introduction.html

  12. Physiological plasticity • Synapses are not static: • With repeated use can show “habituation” • With intense use can become stronger (“long-term potentiation”) • Simultaneous strong inputs can potentiate each other (“fire together, wire together”) Harris & Cotman, 1986

  13. Electroencephalography (EEG) Synaptic currents create a small electrical field along a neuron If neurons are lined up, the electric fields add together. Using electrodes placed on the scalp and sensitive amplifiers… …one can record “brain waves”! x http://quizlet.com/4239544/cog-sci-chapter-2-flash-cards/ http://www.acm.org/conferences/sac/sac2000/Proceed/FinalPapers/BC-07/ http://www.brightmindsinstitute.com/blog/ http://apotential.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/the-neurologist-explains-eegs-to-me/

  14. Quantitative EEG (QEEG) EEG can be “de-convoluted” to find and measure the underlying components, e.g.: EEG is the sum of many brain waves, like this: QEEG data can be looked at many ways, For example: 0 Frequency (Hz) http://simetronsac.com/dx_eeg2.php scidavis.sourceforge.net/manual/c4166.html newsoffice.mit.edu/2012/faster-fourier-transforms-0118

  15. And then there are glial cells… Astrocyte – various supportive functions Oligodendrocyte - makes myelin

  16. The building blocks – Neurons and Glial Cells Miriam Ascagni, DIBIT San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy, 2010 http://www.nedsahin.com/methods/fmri/ Del Rio-Hortega, 1920 Ramon y Cajal, 1899

  17. Good sources of info about the brain, • The Society for Neuroscience (www.sfn.org) – in particular, “Brain Briefings” • “The Brain Science Podcast” – not for total beginners • The Dana Foundation www.dana.org • http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html (“Neuroscience for Kids”) • http://medicalxpress.com/neuroscience-news/ There is LOTS of new information every day…

  18. Thank you for your attention Questions? Comments?

More Related