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Functions of axon, dendrites an neurotransmitters :)

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sisqo1111:
Hi all,
i was just wondering if anyone would be able to shed some light on the functions of a axon, dendrites and neurotransmitters. This is for my first sac in psychology and i have the heinemann book which is so crap and does not make sense.

Thanks a heap :)

Nick:
Okay so in terms of neurons, you must remember that they are individual cells which receive, process and trasmit information to other cells.

The dendrites are specialised to receive incoming information from another neuron. It then transmits it to the cell body.

The axon is the part of the neuron that transmits information from the neuron to other neurons. The axon is covered by the myelin sheath, a protective covering which prevents interference from other neurons.

Neurotransmitters are chemical substances. They transmit messages from one neuron to the next neuron. A neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic gap from the axon terminals (often called synaptic buttons). A synapse then occurs with the next neuron, signalling that the message has been received by the next neuron.

I hope this clears things up for you.

sisqo1111:
thanks so much Nick!
You should write your own Psychology textbook  :P
Makes much more sense than the stupid heinemann book! I hate that book never ever look at it lol.

Nick:
No worries. Just out of curiosity, are you doing 3/4 psych or unit 2?

sisqo1111:
I'm doing Unit 3 & 4. Yeah i think you're thinking that i don't need to know that, i thought that too but my teacher told me you just need to know those three things about the neuron. Doesn't worry me much.

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