brain plasticity

• presynaptic neuron the neuron which transmits the neural impulse
• post synaptic neuron the neuron which receives the neural impulse
• axon a nerve fibre which conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body towards the end of a neuron
• presynaptic nerve terminal end of presynaptic neuron and facilitates communication with the next neuron
• synaptic vesicle stores neurotrasmitters
• neurotransmitter chemical substances made by the neuron specifically to transmit a message
• synapse small gap between the presynaptic neuron and the post synaptic neuron
• postsynaptic receptor sites found on the surface of a postsynaptic neuron and binds to transmitters
• what is a neuron? nerve cells they have been adapted to carry electrical impulses and information around the body
• what is the role of a dendrite in a neuron? recieve chemical messages from the axon terminals of other neurons and convert them into electrical impulses
• what is the purpose of the myelin sheath? a protective insulation cover which acts to speed up electrical impulses
• what are axon terminals responisble for? communicating the message with the next neuron
• what is the role of the sensory neuron? carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain (CNS)
• examples of sensory receptors: eyes tongue nose skin ears
• what do sensory neurons convert information from? sensory receptors into neural impusles
• in the sensory neuron, where is information sent? via the peripheral nervous system to the CNS
• what happens when impulses reach the brain? (sensory neuron) they are translated into sensations of visual imput, heat, pain etc
• what is the function of relay neuron? allow the sensory neuron and motor neuron to communicate
• where are motor neurons located? CNS
• what is the function of motor neurons? used to connect the CNS to effectors e.g. muscles to control muscle movement
• what happens to motor neurons when they are stimulated? they release neurotransmitters that bind to receptors on the muscle and trigger a response which leads to muscle movement
• describe the 3 neurons in action: stimulus receptor sensory neuron relay neuron motor neuron effector response
• explain excitatory neurotransmitters using adrenaline as the example? adrenaline → excitory neurotransmitters increases positive charge of post-synaptic neuron makes the neuron more likely to fire leads to an excitatory post-synaptic potential
• explain inhibitory neurotransmitters using serotonin as the example serotonin → inhibitory neurotransmitters increases the negative charge of the post synaptic neuron makes the neuron less likely to fire leads to inhibitory post-synaptic potential
• why can the direction of travel for neurotransmitters only be one way? neurotransmitters are only released from the presynaptic nerve terminal and recieved by the post synpatic neuron each neurotransmitter has a specific molecular structure which fits into a post synaptic receptor site