Neural Communication - Introduction, Process, Steps
Neural Communication - Introduction, Process, Steps
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Neural Communication
The nervous system is the principal regulatory system in animals, which is required to survive and
maintain homeostasis. The nervous system along with the endocrine system jointly coordinate and
integrate all the activities of the organs and regulate physiological processes so that they function in a
synchronised manner. The endocrine system provides relatively slow and long-lasting regulation,
whereas the nervous system responds rapidly, but briefly.
Table of Content
Human Nervous System
Neural Communication
The neural system provides an organised network of point-to-point connections for quick coordination.
The nervous system of all animals is composed of special cells known as neurons, which are the
structural and functional unit of the nervous system.
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1. The Central Nervous System: It is a site where the received information is processed and
integrated for the action or response by effectors
1. Brain
2. Spinal Cord
2. The Peripheral Nervous System: All the nerves associated with the CNS. There are two types of
nerves present
1. Afferent nerve fibres: transmits nerve impulse from organs or tissues to CNS
2. Efferent nerve fibres: transmits impulses from the CNS to peripheral organs or tissues
The PNS is divided into two types based on the organs/tissue it transmits the nerve impulse to. These
are:
2. Autonomic nervous system: Impulse is transmitted from CNS to smooth muscles and involuntary
organs of the body
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Dendrite: short, highly branched fibres that project outwards from the cell body. They are
specialised to receive stimuli and signals to the cell body
Axon: single long fibre, branched at the terminals. Axon conducts nerve impulses away from the
cell body to another neuron, muscle or gland.
Axon terminal ends in a synaptic knob. Synaptic knob contains synaptic vesicles, that
release neurotransmitter, chemicals that transmit signals from one neuron to another
neuron or from neuron to muscle or gland. The junction between the synaptic terminal and
another neuron or effector is called a synapse
Neurons are divided into three types, based on the number of axon and dendrites present in
them. These are:
Multipolar: It has one axon and two or more dendrites. It is found in the cerebral cortex
Bipolar: It has one axon and one dendrite. It is found in the retina of the eye
Myelin sheath: Axon of many neurons are surrounded by a series of cells called Schwann cells.
The plasma membrane of these cells contains myelin, a white fatty material. Schwann cells wrap
their plasma membrane around the axon, forming an insulated covering called the myelin
sheath. Gaps in the myelin sheath are known as nodes of Ranvier.
Neural Communication
An animal receives thousands of stimuli simultaneously. The survival depends on identifying and
responding to these stimuli effectively. In most of the animals, neural communication involves four
processes. Whether a stimulus originates externally or internally, information must be received,
transmitted to the CNS, integrated and transmitted to muscle or glands to carry out some action, the
actual response.
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3. Integration: Integration involves sorting and interpreting incoming sensory information and
determining the appropriate response
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In summary, information flows through the nervous system in the following sequence:
The difference in the concentration of specific ions across the plasma membrane, inside the cell
and in extracellular fluid
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At the resting state, the membrane has 100 times more permeability to K+ ions as compared to
Na+
As a result, at the resting state, potassium ion (K+) concentration inside the axon in axoplasm is more
compared to outside the cell and sodium ion (Na+) concentration is more outside
The electric charge inside the cell is more negative than the charge of the extracellular fluid and
membrane is said to be polarised
Due to the difference in electric charge across the plasma membrane, there exists a potential
difference across the plasma membrane
The resting membrane potential depends mainly on the diffusion of ions down the concentration
gradient
Neurons have three types of ion channels: passive ion channels, voltage-gated channels and
chemically activated ion channels
These pumps require ATP to pump Na+ and K+ against their concentration and electrical gradients
Sodium potassium pump transports 3 Na+ outwards for 2 K+ into the cell
When a stimulus is strong enough, a rapid large change in membrane potential occurs, depolarising
the membrane to a critical point known as the threshold level.
The electric potential difference at that site A is called the action potential or nerve impulse.
All cells can generate graded potentials, but only neurons, muscle cells and a few cells of the endocrine
and immune systems can generate action potentials.
When depolarisation is greater than -55mV, the threshold level is reached and an action potential is
generated.
An action potential is an all-or-none response and no variation exists in the strength of a single
impulse. The intensity of sensation depends on the number of neurons stimulated and on their
frequency of discharge.
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Action potential or nerve impulse is an electrical signal that travels rapidly down the axon into the
synaptic terminals.
At site B, ahead of where the action potential is generated (site A), the membrane is polarised, i.e.
negatively charged inside and positively charged outside so the current flows from A to B at the inner
surface and from B to A on the outer surface. This results in the reversal of polarity and the action
potential or nerve impulse is generated at site B. The conduction of impulse throughout the length of
the axon is the result of a repeated sequence of these steps.
Depolarisation is very rapid so the conduction of nerve impulse along the entire length of axon occurs in
a fraction of second.
After a certain period (milliseconds) membrane again becomes impermeable to Na+ as Na+ channels
close. Voltage activated K+ channels open resulting in diffusion of K+ outside the membrane and the
resting potential is restored. This is called repolarisation.
A wave of depolarisation moves down the membrane of axon and the normal polarised state is quickly
re-established behind, i.e. known as repolarisation. The membrane resting potential is restored and the
membrane once more becomes responsive to further stimulation. Most neurons can transmit several
hundred impulses per second.
Conduction ends at the axon terminals and neurotransmission begins. At the axon terminal, the neuron
sends the signal to other neurons.
At the electrical synapse, an electrical signal is generated and at the chemical synapse,
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Electrical Synapse
At electrical synapses, the membrane of pre and postsynaptic neuron are in very close proximity and
form gap junctions (<2 nm).
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The interiors of the two cells are physically connected by a protein channel.
Electrical synapses let ion pass from one cell to another resulting in rapidly transmitting an impulse
from presynaptic to the postsynaptic neuron.
Electrical synapse transmits signal much faster than chemical synapse, but they are rare in humans.
The escape responses of many animals involve electrical synapses. E.g. the “tail-flick” escape
response of the crayfish.
Chemical Synapse
The majority of synapses are chemical synapses.
A fluid-filled space between the pre and postsynaptic neuron is called synaptic cleft (~20 nm).
When an action potential reaches the end of the axon, it cannot jump the gap because depolarisation
is the property of the plasma membrane.
The electrical signal has to be converted into a chemical one. Neurotransmitters are involved in the
transmission at these synapses.
Axon terminal consists of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters. When an action potential
(impulse) reaches axon terminal it stimulates synaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitters in the
synaptic cleft.
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When an action potential reaches the synaptic terminal, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open. Ca2+ ion
from extracellular fluid enters the synaptic terminal inducing synaptic vesicles to fuse with the
presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitters by exocytosis.
These neurotransmitters bind to specific receptors present on the dendrites or cell body of postsynaptic
neurons or on the plasma membrane of the effector cells.
This binding triggers the opening of specific gated ion channels, resulting in changes in the
permeability of the postsynaptic membrane.
When postsynaptic neuron reaches its threshold level of depolarisation, it transmits an action potential.
When the depolarisation initiates transmitting a neural impulse it is known as excitatory, whereas when
the membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting potential, it is said to be
hyperpolarised, it decreases the ability of the neuron to generate nerve impulse and known as
inhibitory.
Membrane potential that brings the neuron closer to firing is called an excitatory postsynaptic
potential (EPSP).
Excess neurotransmitters from synaptic cleft have to be removed in order to quickly repolarise the
postsynaptic membrane. It is either degraded into its component or transported back into synaptic
terminals, the process known as reuptake. These are repackaged in the vesicles and recycled.
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Neurotransmitters
Many chemicals are found to act as a neurotransmitter. They can be broadly classified into various
chemical groups:
Acetylcholine
Released from motor neurons and by some neurons in the brain and autonomic nervous
system
Biogenic amines
Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine), serotonin and histamine belong
to this class
Their imbalance has been linked to various disorders, e.g. anxiety, depression, ADHD and
schizophrenia
Amino acids
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
Glycine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) have an inhibitory effect in the spinal cord
and brain
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Neuropeptides
Endorphins and enkephalins act as a neuromodulator
Gaseous neurotransmitters
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It transmits information from postsynaptic to the presynaptic neuron, i.e. the opposite
direction
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