biopsychology: types of neurons

Question 1

what is the role of sensory neurons e.g. where do they transmit messages from and to?

Answer 1

carry nerve impulses to the spinal cord and brain. when these nerve impulses reach the brain, they are translated into ‘sensations’, such as vision, hearing, taste and touch

Question 2

what is the role of motor neurons e.g. where do they transmit messages from and to?

Answer 2

controls muscle movement by transmitting messages from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands, when motor neurons are stimulated they release neurotransmitters that bind to the receptors on muscles to trigger a response, which lead to movement.

Question 3

what is the role of relay neurons e.g. where do they transmit messages from and to?

Answer 3

allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate by relaying information between them

Question 4

where in the nervous system would you find sensory, motor and relay neurons?

Answer 4

relay - found between sensory input and motor output/response
motor - found in the central nervous system (CNS)
sensory - found in receptors such as the eyes, ears, tongue and skin

Question 5

which type of neurons have short dendrites and long axons?

Answer 5

motor neurons

Question 6

which type of neurons have long dendrites and short axons?

Answer 6

sensory neuron

Question 7

which type of neurons have short dendrites and short axons?

Answer 7

relay neurons

Question 8

what causes electrical impulses to travel down a nerve cell?

Answer 8

the nerve impulses travel down the axon by using the action potential

Question 9

explain the process of synaptic transmission (5 stages)

Answer 9

1. electrical impulses (action potential) reach the presynaptic ending
2. action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitters
3. neurotransmitters are released from vesicles across the synapse
4. neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
5. stimulation of postsynaptic receptors result in either excitation or inhibition of postsynaptic membrane

Question 10

why can action potential only travel in one direction?

Answer 10

neurotransmitters are released from the vesicles at the end of the pre-synaptic neuron and bind to sites at the start of the post-synaptic neuron. this would make it impossible for information to flow in any other direction.