Neurons Communication: An Electrochemical and

Chemical Process

Sodium
-

electrons
protons
-

Chloride
Chlorine
-

+
+ +
+ +
+
+
+
-

Na+

+
+
+
+

- -

++
+
+ + ++ +
+
+
+
++
+
+ +
++
- Cl-

Membrane Potential
The inside of the cell has a negative
charge compared with the outside.
The membrane has a polarity.
This is maintained by pumping
positive charged ions (Na+) outside.

Extracellular -

A
+

A
-

A
-

+
+

A
A
+
Intracellular
A
+

A
-

A
+

-70
mV

Changing the Polarity

Resting potential: (-70 mV): The membrane
potential of a neuron when its not being affected by
other neurons.
Depolarization: reducing the polarity of the neuron.
Moving from -70 mV towards zero. Adding more
positively charged ions into the cell or removing
negatively charged ions from the inside.
Hyperpolarization: Increasing the polarity of the
membrane.

Ion Channels

How do ion channels open or

close?
Voltage-dependant ion channel
(voltage-gated): When the
membrane around the channel
reaches a specific polarity it will
open.
Chemical-dependant ion channel
(chemical-gated): A chemical, such
as a neurotransmitter, causes it to
close or open.

Chemical-Gated Ion Channel

Voltage-Gated Ion Channels
Na+
Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

K+

Na+

Na+
Na+

K+

Na+

Na+

K+

Na+
Na+

Na+
Na+
Neurotransmi
tter

Na+
Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

A
A
A
-

A
-

K+

K+

K+

A
-

A
-

A
-

A
-

K+

A
-

K+

A
-

K+

K+

A
A
-

K+

A
-

Na

Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

Depolarization
Na+

Na+

Na+
Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

K+

K+

Na+
K+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

K+

Na+

Na+

K+
Na+

Na+
Na+

Na+

Na+

A
-

A
K+

K+

A
-

A
-

A
-

A
-

K+

A
-

Voltage
Threshold
Inside
-65 mV
-70
Resting

Na+
Na+

Na+
Na+

K+

Na+

Na+

Na+

K+

A
-

K+

Na+

K+

A
A
-

K+

Propagation of the Action

Potential
Myelin

Depolarization

Inside the
Axon

Node of Ranvier

Action Potential

Depolarization Na+
Repolarization Potassium K+
Na+

Na+
Na+

Na+

K+
K+

K+
K+

Action Potential

Na+
Channels
close

+40
K+
Channels
open

K+ Channels
stay open

mV
Na+
Channels
open

Threshold
Potential -65

K+ Channels
Close

Resting -70
Potential
Time

Depolarization followed by
repolarization

Myelin

Inside the
Axon

Node of Ranvier

Action Potential

Action Potential
Depolarization
A stimulus causes a gate in the Na+
Channel to open. Since there is a high
concentration of Na+ outside, Na+
diffuses into the neuron. The electrical
potential changes to ~ +40 mV.

Repolarization
Depolarization causes the K+ Channel
gate to immediately open. K+ diffuses out
of the neuron. This reestablishes the
initial electrical potential of ~ -70 mV.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

K+

Na+

Na+

K+
K+

K+
K+

K+

Na+

Na+

Na+

K+

A
-

ATP
ADP

P
Na+
A
-

Na+

K+

K+

Na+
A
-

A
-

K+

Sodium-potassium pump

Synapse

Synapse

Ca++

Ca++

Ca++
Ca++

Ca++
Ca++

Synaptic Cleft

Presynaptic

Postsynapti

Action potential
The depolarization at one spot
caused a depolarization at a spot
further down the axon.
Boom boom boom!

Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters: Chemicals
produced by a neuron that are sent
across the synapse to affect a postsynaptic cell by binding to a receptor.
The neurotransmitter fits a receptor
like a specific key to a lock.

Synapse

Ca++

Ca++

Ca++
Ca++

Ca++
Ca++

Synaptic Cleft

Presynaptic

Postsynapti

Chemical-Gated Ion Channel

Voltage-Gated Ion Channels
Na+
Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

K+

Na+

Na+
Na+

K+

Na+

Na+

K+

Na+
Na+

Na+
Na+
Neurotransmi
tter

Na+
Na+

Na+

Na+

Na+

A
A
A
-

A
-

K+

K+

K+

A
-

A
-

A
-

A
-

K+

A
-

K+

A
-

K+

K+

A
A
-

K+

A
-

Na

Presynaptic
Ca++

Ca++

Ca++
Ca++

Ca++
Ca++

Synapse

Postsynaptic

Transporter

Neurotransmitters
Excitatory (Excitation): Increases
the likelihood of producing an action
potential on the post-synaptic cell.
Glutamate, dopamine, norepinephrine,
epinephrine

Inhibitory (inhibition): Decreases

the likelihood of producing an action
potential on the post-synaptic cell.
GABA, 5-HT, dopamine, substance p

Psychopharmacology
antagonist

A drug that opposes or inhibits the effects of

a particular neurotransmitter on the
postsynaptic cell.

agonist

A drug that facilitates the effects of a

particular neurotransmitter on the
postsynaptic cell.