Introduction to the cells of the nervous system

Types of neurons

Types and functions of glia cells


The neuron's cell membrane

Ions inside and outside of neuron and how that difference is maintained

Resting potential

Voltage-gated Ion channels in axon membrane

How the action potential is produced in axon

Threshold

All or none law

Refractory period (absolute and relative)

Myelin sheaths and how they affect the action potential process ; saltatory conduction

Examples of situations where ion channels aren’t working properly

Examples of conditions where myelin deteriorates and how it affects neuron messages

The electrical responses of dendrites

EPSP

IPSP

summation of incoming messages (temporal and spatial)

Otto Lowei’s study demonstrating chemical transmission

The role of calcium channels in the axon ending in synaptic transmission

Groups of neurotransmitters and examples

Steps necessary for neuron’s to be able to chemically transmit their messages (synthesis, transport, storage, release, binding to receptors, inactivation and/or reuptake)

2 categories of post-synaptic receptors and the differences in the effects produced  by their activation (ionotropic vs metabotropic)

Drug actions by affecting chemical transmission

Parkinson’s disease as both an example of neurotransmitter related disorder and using drugs to alter neurotransmitters (249-253)

characteristics of the disease

cause of the disease

treatments

What we have learned about PD from unusual cases (like the frozen addicts)

an animal model of PD for further research