Microphysiology 10/6/98

The Structure of a Neuron

Types of neurons

Neural communication--

The action Potential

Crossing the synapse

Graded Potentials

Neurotransmitters

Summary

Developmental Psychology as a 20th Century Phenomenon

Once generated, the action potential travels the full length of the axon.

The action potential is "all or none," regardless of the intensity of initiating stimulus.

The intensity of the initiating stimulus does affect the rapidity with which the cell fires.

The kinds of neurons (i.e., sensory, motor, and interneuron).

The structure of the "generic" neuron (i.e., its body parts)

What the action potential is (i.e., a change in electrical potential that functions as a "signal"), and how it behaves (e.g., all or none firing, frequency=intensity, moves in "wavelike" fashion down the axon).

How neural impulses cross the synaptic gap.