Chapter 3.1 Neurons: Origin of Behavior

a type of sensory neuron found in the retinas of the eyes, have a single axon and small dendrites that feed into a single long dendrite that connects to the cell body. The brain processes different types of information, so a substantial amount of specialization at the cellular level has evolved to handle these tasks.

Bipolar cells

The part of a neuron that *receives* information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body.

Dendrites

type of interneuron that carries information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain and spinal cord. These neurons have dense, elaborate dendrites that resemble bushes

Purkinje Cells

found in the cerebral cortex, have a triangular cell body and a single, long dendrite among many smaller dendrites

Pyramidal cells

Neurons that receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord. - They have receptors on their dendrites that receive signals for light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, sensory neurons' endings in our eye

Sensory neurons

The part of a neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands. - In many neurons, the axon is covered by a myelin sheath - axon insulated with myelin can more efficiently transmit signals to other neurons, organs, or muscles.

axon

AKA soma the largest component of the neuron that that coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive - Functions such as protein synthesis, energy production, and metabolism take place here - contains a nucleus - is surrounded by a porous cell membrane that allows some molecules to flow into and out of the cell.

cell body

i.e. multiple sclerosis - the myelin sheath deteriorates, slowing the transmission of information from one neuron to another. - This leads to a variety of problems, including loss of feeling in the limbs, partial blindness, and difficulties in coordinated movement and cognition

emyelinating diseases

Support cells found in the nervous system. - Although there are 100 billion neurons busily processing information in your brain, there are 10 to 50 times that many glial cells serving a variety of functions - Some glial cells digest parts of dead neurons, others provide physical and nutritional support for neurons, and others form myelin to insulate the axon.

glial cells

1. Dendrites 2. Cell body 3. Axon 4. Myelin Sheath 5. Terminal Branches of the Axon

identify the components of the neuron

Neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons. - makes up most of them nervous system. - Some interneurons carry information from sensory neurons into the nervous system, others carry information from the nervous system to motor neurons, and still others perform a variety of information-processing functions within the nervous system. - work together in small circuits to perform simple tasks, such as identifying the location of a sensory signal, and much more complicated ones, such as recognizing a familiar face.

interneurons

Neurons that carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement. - often have long axons that can stretch to muscles at our extremities

motor neurons

An insulating layer of fatty material. - composed of glial cells

myelin sheath

cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information-processing tasks - neurons have two types of specialized extensions of the cell membrane that allow them to communicate: dendrites and axons.

neurons

houses chromosomes that contain our DNA, or the genetic blueprint of who we are.

nucleus

The junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another. - dendrites and axons of neurons do not actually touch each other. - the transmission of information across the synapse is fundamental to communication between neurons, a process that allows us to think, feel, and behave.

synapse

cell body dendrites axons

three basic parts of a neuron

sensory motor inter

three major types of neurons: