Neurotransmitters and Neurons

Neurons are nerve cells that transmit messages to each other with electrochemical mojo.

Neurons have electrochemical mojo that allows them to transmit messages.

Our mental activities are spurred by our biological condition.

<p>It means that our mental activities are influenced by our biological condition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the chemistry of our bodies helps us understand how we think, sense, and feel about the world.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neurons are the building blocks of our nervous systems and transmit messages to each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main topic of this text is the complexity of different systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The next lesson will focus on the different components of the nervous system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Zane Ice is the person who brought this lesson to the viewers and wants to say hi to his friend Harrison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Viewers can learn about the different components of the nervous system and how much of their brain they actually use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Viewers can learn more about sponsoring an episode and other perks available to subbable subscribers at subbable.com/crashcourse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>This episode was written by Kathleen Yale.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The director and editor of this episode is Nicholas Jenkins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and dopamine can both excite or inhibit neurons depending on what type of receptors they encounter. Acetylcholine enables muscle action and influences learning and memory, while dopamine is associated with learning, movement, and pleasurable emotions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Alzheimer's patients experience a deterioration of their acetylcholine producing neurons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Dopamine is associated with learning, movement, and pleasurable emotions. Excessive amounts of dopamine are linked to schizophrenia as well as addictive and impulsive behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hormones affect moods, arousal, and circadian rhythm. They regulate metabolism, monitor the immune system, signal growth, and help with sexual reproduction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neurotransmitters operate with amazing speed, while the endocrine system takes its time, delivering slow chemical communications through glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The pituitary gland is the most influential gland in the endocrine system. It releases growth hormone and oxytocin, and it also regulates other endocrine glands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three basic parts of a neuron are the soma (cell body), dendrites, and axon. The soma contains all the necessary cell action like the nucleus, DNA, mitochondria, ribosomes, and such. The dendrites receive messages and gossip from other cells, while the axon transmits electrical impulses from the cell body out to other neurons or glands or muscles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The myelin sheath is a protective layer of fatty tissue that encases certain types of axons. It acts like an insulated electrical wire, speeding up the transmission of messages. If the myelin sheath degrades, as it does with multiple sclerosis, the transmission of signals is degraded as well, eventually leading to a lack of muscle control.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Synapses are the contact points between neurons. At the synaptic gap, which is the microscopic cleft between the dendrites and axon of neighboring neurons, chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are released and jump across the gap to land on the receptor sites of the receiving neuron.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers released by neurons. They play a crucial role in neuronal communication by transmitting signals between neurons. They can either excite or inhibit the receiving neuron's trigger, affecting motion, emotion, learning, memory, alertness, sleep, and various other functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Excitatory neurotransmitters rev up the neuron and increase the chances of firing off an action potential. An example of an excitatory neurotransmitter is glutamate, which is involved in memory. However, an oversupply of glutamate can cause brain disturbances such as seizures and migraines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Inhibitory neurotransmitters chill neurons out and decrease the likelihood of the neuron jumping into action. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Another example is serotonin, which affects mood, hunger, and sleep. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three basic parts of a neuron are the soma, dendrites, and axon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The soma, or cell body, is responsible for the neuron's life support. It contains the necessary cell action like the nucleus, DNA, mitochondria, and ribosomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Dendrites receive messages and gossip from other cells. They act as listeners, relaying the information they receive back to the soma.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The axon transmits electrical impulses from the cell body to other neurons, glands, or muscles. It is responsible for communication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The myelin sheath is a protective layer of fatty tissue that encases some axons. It acts as an insulated electrical wire, speeding up the transmission of messages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are released by neurons. They jump the synaptic gap and bind to receptor sites on receiving neurons, affecting their activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers