neurons & synaptic transmission

• what is synaptic transmission

  process by which neurons communicate with each other
• process of synaptic transmission

  1. electrical impulse travels along the axon of pre-synaptic neuron
  2. impulse reaches synaptic vesicles to release a neurotransmitter
  3. neurotransmitters diffuse across synaptic gap and bind to receptors
• creating an action potential

  • resting potential when neuron is not stimulated (-70V)
  • action potential is the response of post-synaptic neuron if the threshold is reached - this sends an electrical impulse down the axon of the neuron
  • when a stimulus is present, positive ions move into membrane causing the neuron to depolarise which passes on electrical impulse along the neuron
• what is required for an action potential to fire

  • has to reach the 'threshold'
  • excitatory NT cause axon to become less negative so increase likelihood of action potential firing e.g: dopamine
  • inhibitory NT cause the axon to become more negative so decrease likelihood of action potential firing e.g: serotonin