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Brain Book: Unit2
UNIT 2 – NEUROTRANSMISSION
Neurons use a combination of electricity and chemicals to send messages around your brain and body.
Electricity
When a neuron gets stimulated-like by something touching your skin, an electrode, or another neuron-it builds up an electric charge. If the charge gets strong enough, it will trigger an impulse (an action potential): the cell body will send the charge down the axon, where it can make the neuron send out a message using chemicals.
When a neuron gets stimulated-like by something touching your skin, an electrode, or another neuron-it builds up an electric charge. If the charge gets strong enough, it will trigger an impulse (an action potential): the cell body will send the charge down the axon, where it can make the neuron send out a message using chemicals.
Chemicals
Every neuron makes chemicals called neurotransmitters. When an impulse travels down the axon it triggers the release of these chemicals into the space between it and the next neuron (the synapse). The chemicals cross the gap and lock into receptors on the branches (dendrites) of the next neuron, sending the message.
Every neuron makes chemicals called neurotransmitters. When an impulse travels down the axon it triggers the release of these chemicals into the space between it and the next neuron (the synapse). The chemicals cross the gap and lock into receptors on the branches (dendrites) of the next neuron, sending the message.
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