Basics 2 min read
Reception and Transduction
Odorants (odor molecules) enter the nose and dissolve in the olfactory epithelium, the mucosa at the back of the nasal cavity…
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Basics 12 min read
Somatosensation
Somatosensation is a mixed sensory category and includes all sensation received from the skin and mucous membranes, as well from…
Basics 6 min read
Encoding and Transmission of Sensory Information
Four aspects of sensory information are encoded by sensory systems: the type of stimulus, the location of the stimulus in…
Basics 5 min read
Sensory Systems
Figure 17.1. This shark uses its senses of sight, vibration (lateral-line system), and smell to hunt, but it also relies…
Basics 5 min read
Mental Illnesses
Mental illnesses are nervous system disorders that result in problems with thinking, mood, or relating with other people. These disorders…
Basics 9 min read
Nervous System Disorders
A nervous system that functions correctly is a fantastically complex, well-oiled machine—synapses fire appropriately, muscles move when needed, memories are…
Basics 4 min read
Parasympathetic & Sensory-Somatic
Parasympathetic Nervous System While the sympathetic nervous system is activated in stressful situations, the parasympathetic nervous system allows an animal to “rest…
Basics 2 min read
Sympathetic Nervous System
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “fight or flight” response that occurs when an animal encounters a dangerous situation. One…
Basics 2 min read
The Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the connection between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. The…
Basics 3 min read
LTPP & LTD
Long-term Potentiation (LTP) Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of a synaptic connection. LTP is based on the Hebbian principle:…
Basics 4 min read
Signal Summation
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron, but often multiple presynaptic…
Basics 4 min read
Synaptic Transmission
The synapse or “gap” is the place where information is transmitted from one neuron to another. Synapses usually form between…