Brain cells, also known as neurons, work by sending and receiving electrical and chemical signals, enabling us to think, feel, move, and comprehend the world. They are fundamental building blocks of the brain, responsible for transmitting information throughout the body.
Neuron Function: Sending and Receiving Signals
Neurons communicate with each other, muscles, and tissues through a complex electrochemical process. Here's a breakdown:
-
Electrical Signals: Within a neuron, information travels as an electrical signal. This signal, called an action potential, moves along the neuron's axon.
-
Chemical Signals: When the electrical signal reaches the end of the neuron (the axon terminal), it triggers the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
-
Neurotransmitter Transmission: Neurotransmitters cross a tiny gap called the synapse and bind to receptors on the next neuron. This binding either excites (depolarizes) or inhibits (hyperpolarizes) the receiving neuron, making it more or less likely to fire its own electrical signal.
-
Signal Propagation: This process repeats across countless neurons, allowing information to travel throughout the brain and body.
Key Components of Neuronal Communication
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Neuron | The basic functional unit of the brain, responsible for transmitting information. |
| Electrical Signal | Action potential that travels along a neuron's axon. It is how information is conducted down the length of a single neuron. |
| Chemical Signal | Neurotransmitters released from the axon terminal, transmitting signals across the synapse to other neurons. |
| Synapse | The gap between neurons where chemical neurotransmitters transmit signals. |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical messengers that transmit signals from one neuron to another across the synapse. Examples include dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. |
| Receptor | Proteins on the receiving neuron that bind to neurotransmitters, initiating a response. |
Example of Brain Cell Function
Imagine touching a hot stove.
- Sensory neurons in your fingertips detect the heat.
- These neurons send electrical signals to other neurons.
- Neurotransmitters carry the signal across synapses to neurons in your spinal cord.
- The signal travels to your brain, where it's interpreted as pain.
- The brain sends a signal back down the spinal cord and through other neurons to the muscles in your arm.
- These muscles contract, causing you to pull your hand away.
This entire process happens incredibly quickly, thanks to the efficient communication between brain cells. The neurons are the building blocks that send and receive electrical and chemical signals, allowing you to react swiftly to the hot stove.
