Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems: An Introduction to Neuroscience

Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Introduction to Nerve Cells and Nervous Systems....Pages 1-13
The Cell Membrane and Ionic Permeability....Pages 15-28
The Action Potential and Voltage-Gated Channels....Pages 29-43
Propagation of the Action Potential — The Nerve Impulse....Pages 45-52
General Properties of Synaptic Transmission....Pages 53-59
The Presynaptic Neuron I: Release and Storage of Transmitter....Pages 61-71
The Presynaptic Neuron II: Neurotransmitters....Pages 73-90
The Postsynaptic Neuron I: Actions of Transmitters....Pages 91-106
The Postsynaptic Neuron II: The Initiation of Impulses....Pages 107-115
The Neuron as an Integrative Device....Pages 117-125
Transmission Between Identified Pairs of Neurons....Pages 127-141
Sense Organ Mechanisms....Pages 143-157
Functional Organization in Groups of Neurons....Pages 159-175
Structural Organization of Specific Sensory and Motor Systems....Pages 177-195
Functional Properties of Specific Sensory and Motor Systems....Pages 197-212
The Nervous System and Homeostasis — Interactions with the Internal and External Environments....Pages 213-227
Formation, Maintenance and Plasticity of Synapses....Pages 229-244
Learning and Memory....Pages 245-252
Back Matter....Pages 253-265