AP Psychology / Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior
1.3 The Neuron and Neural Firing
Notes
- Dendrites receive; the axon sends; the myelin sheath speeds transmission.
- Action potential: all-or-none. A stronger stimulus makes faster firing, not bigger signals.
- Neurotransmitters cross the synapse: dopamine (reward, movement), serotonin (mood), acetylcholine (muscles, memory), GABA (inhibitory), glutamate (excitatory), endorphins (pain relief).
Practice
The all-or-none principle means a neuron:
Threshold.
Which neurotransmitter is mainly inhibitory?
Calms neural activity.
Multiple sclerosis damages:
Slows signals.
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