A-Level Psychology (AQA): Neurons and Synaptic Transmission *UPDATE*

[@anonymous-so6dk]

i love your videos they really help, i just watched the non-updated version of this video, would you mind telling me what is different with this one and whether it is worth watching both?

[@lauren3267]

thank u mr chemistry man

[@emmathomson6148]

Hi, I was just wondering if you could tell me why when there is a train of action potentials the first has a slightly higher amplitude and shorter duration than the subsequent action potentials in the train. Thanks.

[@smcartledge2723]

Hi, thanks for your question. I'm not a biologist and so my knowledge of this isn't huge, however I've never heard of the amplitude becoming less over time. The amplitude stays the same. If it didn't you would run the risk of neurons later in the chain not firing, which defeats the point of an action potential. The same goes for the duration, it doesn't get less over time, but rather the duration depends on the intensity and the origin of the impulse. Hope that helps.

[@saarahhussain688]

in the book it says sensoy neurons have long dendrites, short axons. why didnt u include this?

[@smcartledge2723]

I try very hard to find a balance between not enough and too much information. I chose to explain where the neurons are and what their job is, alongside a picture of what they look like, rather than including that specific piece of information.

[@saarahhussain688]

@@smcartledge2723 okay thank you, also for the synaptic transmission slide at 10:08, is that all i need to know for it?

[@Poppyhatherall]

Where can I find answers to those last qs?

[@powususarpomaa5133]

://pmt.physicsandmathstutor.com/download/Psychology/A-level/Topic-Qs/AQA/9-Biopsychology/Set-A/Nervous%20System%20MS.pdf

[@brbubdkangz1635]

hello, do we have to describe the parts in a sensory, motor and relay neurons?

[@smcartledge2723]

You have to be able to describe the structure of a neuron and the parts that it is made up of. E.g. For example: the cell body includes a nucleus, which contains all the genetic material of the cell.

[@marinasnyder6048]

For the 6 mark application question on neurons you mentioned, would it be that when he feels the spade hit the rock, his sensory neurons sends messages to his brain, to stop digging. The message is then sent to the motor neurons, via relay neurons which is what makes him physically stop? Something like that I'm just guessing

[@capstar9893]

Hi Marina. Yes your right. The receptors in his hand would be stimulated and picked up by sensory neurons as sensory neurons are connected to the skin, ear etc. This message is then carried to relay neurons which are found in the brain. Your right about the sensory Neuron sending a message to the brain as it’s function is to send it from the peripheral nervous s system to the central nervous system, hence why u said it was sent to the brain as the brain is a part of the central nervous system. Relay neurons are responsible for making the sensory and motor neurons communicate and therefore it will pass the message onto the motor neuron. Motor neurons connect the central nervous system to muscles and glands in order to control muscle movement. Once the message is picked up by the motor neuron from the relay neuron, it is stimulated and releases neurotransmitters that bind to the receptors on muscles which lead to movement. This explains why he stopped digging. Hope this helps and good luck with ur exam.

[@smcartledge2723]

Yep - Hisham is bang on. Couldn't have put it better myself. Good luck tomorrow.