A MAGAZINE FOR EDUCATION STUDENTS
COGNITIVE NEUROCIENCE by: Ericka Chinchilla
The BRAIN The brain is an amazing three-pound organ that controls all functions of the body. It receives information through our five senses, and assembles the messages in a way that has meaning for us. The brain can store that information in our memory. The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is composed of spinal nerves that branch from the spinal cord and cranial nerves that branch from the brain.
CNS THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) CONTROLS MOST FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY AND MIND. IT CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS: THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD. THE BRAIN IS THE CENTER OF OUR THOUGHTS, THE INTERPRETER OF OUR EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THE ORIGIN OF CONTROL OVER BODY MOVEMENT.
PNS THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CONNECTS THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD TO THE REST OF THE BODY AND THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT. IT REGULATES THE INTERNAL HOMEOSTASIS. IT CAN REGULATE THE STRENGTH OF MUSCLE CONTRACTILITY. IT CONTROLS THE RELEASE OF SECRETIONS FROM MOST EXOCRINE GLANDS.
Neurons, also known as nerve cells, send and receive signals from your brain. While neurons have a lot in common with other types of cells, they're structurally and functionally unique. Specialized projections called axons allow neurons to transmit electrical and chemical signals to other cells.
SYNAPSE At a synapse, one neuron sends a message to a target neuron, another cell.
Action potential Key facts about the action potential
Overshoot
Hypopolarization
Depolarization
The initial increase of the membrane potential to the alue of the threshold potential. The threshold potential opens voltage-gated sodium channels and causes a large influx of sodium ions.
Action potential: PHASES
During depolarization, the inside of the cell becomes more and more electropositive, until the potential gets closer the electrochemical equilibrium for sodium of +61 mV.