Lesson 4 the neuron

VCE PSYCHOLOGY
Lesson 4 – The Neuron
© Kristy Kendall & Edrolo 2016
Study design dot point
• the role of the neuron (dendrites, axon, myelin and axon terminals) as the primary cell involved in the
reception and transmission of information across the synapse (excluding details related to signal
transduction)
What you need to know and be able to do:
• Describe the function of a neuron
• Describe the role of each of the parts of a neuron including, Dendrites, soma, axon, axon terminals,
nucleus, synapse, synaptic transmission, nurotransmitters, and myelin sheath
• Describe how a neuron transmits information throughout the brain (neural impulse)

Question from last lesson
• Short answer activity
• Write in Books

Questions from Pre-lesson
• Discussion of wiki Questions
• Areas of concern

Footage © Shutterstock

What are neurons? [Recap]
• Neurons – the basic building blocks of the nervous system, specialised to
communicate information around the body.
• There are three different types of neurons:
- Sensory neurons (afferent) – transmit information from the body to the brain
- Motor neurons (efferent) – transmit information from the brain to the body
- Interneurons – communicate between sensory and motor neurons
• Remember the mnemonic SAME (Sensory : Afferent, Motor : Efferent)

Structure of a neuron

What does each component do?
• Dendrite – receives incoming neural messages
• Soma – the body of the neuron, contains the nucleus with
the genetic material for the neuron
• Axon – the pathway down which the neural message
travels
• Myelin sheath – fatty tissue that encases the axon to aid in
speed of transmission
• Axon terminals – exit pathways for a neural messages to
make their way to the next neuron
• Terminal buttons (Synaptic nobs) – releases a chemical
substance known as neurotransmitters to a receiving
neuron for communication purposes; also referred to as
synaptic knobs

Drawing and labeling
• Practice drawing and labeling the key components of a neuron. Think of it
as looking similar to your hand as a point of reference.
• Can you make up a memory aid that places the components in order?
D S(n) A(ms) AT TB
Dave Still Admires ATrocoius TeddyBears

Overview
• Communication between neurons is an electrochemical process.
It uses both electrical and chemical energy.
• Neurons do not move, they communicate messages.
• Neurons adapt physically to suit the frequency and speed of
necessary communication.

Communication within neurons
Inside negative charge –
Outside positive charge +
Action Potential – Negatives rush
through
All or nothing –

Neuron electrical charge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo3BoxUhgzQ
Neuron electrical charge (0:33 min)
This one shows some of the idea of the charge.

Communication within a neuron
Action potential
• A neuron has a resting potential when not activated. Negatively
charged ions are inside the axon, and positively charged ions are
outside the neuron.
• An electrical impulse known as an action potential (or neural
impulse) is initiated by the soma and travels along the axon
towards the axon terminals.
• This turns the negatively charged ions to positive, and the external
ones to negative.
• An action potential is an all or nothing process.
• Communication within a neuron uses electrical energy.

Communication between neurons
Terminology used for reference

• The synaptic knob/terminal button of the pre-synaptic neuron
releases neurotransmitters across the synaptic gap or synapse.
• These are received by the dendrite of the post-synaptic neuron.
• Communication between neurons use chemical energy.

Video source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zFgT4aofA

Neural communication
• The synaptic knob/terminal button of the pre-synaptic neuron
releases neurotransmitters across the synaptic gap or synapse.
• These are received by the dendrite of the post-synaptic neuron.
• Communication between neurons use chemical energy.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Nicotine_i
ncreases_dopamine_release_in_a_synapse.gif

Fast five - Question 1
Where is an incoming neural message received in a neuron?

Fast five - Question 1 (Answer)
Where is an incoming neural message received in a neuron?
Answer:
Dendrite

Name three different types of neurons.

Name three different types of neurons.
Sample Response:
Sensory, Motor and Interneuron

What is the name of the fatty tissue that protects the axon?

What is the name of the fatty tissue that protects the axon?
Sample Response:
Myelin Sheath

What is this fatty tissue’s role?

What is this fatty tissue’s role?
Sample Response:
Protection and speed

Which component of the neuron releases a chemical substance for
communication purposes?

Which component of the neuron releases a chemical substance for
communication purposes?
Sample Response:
Synaptic button

What is the gap between two neurons called?

What is the gap between two neurons called?
Answer:
Synapse

What is the name of the chemical substance released by the terminal
button?

What is the name of the chemical substance released by the terminal
button?
Answer:
Neurotransmitter

What energy is used to communicate within neurons?

What energy is used to communicate within neurons?
Answer:
Electric

What energy is used to communicate between neurons?

What energy is used to communicate between neurons?
Answer:
Chemical

Neurons communicate using what sort of energy?

Neurons communicate using what sort of energy?
Answer:
Electrochemical

Lesson 4 the neuron

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