The nervous system functions by rapidly sending signals long distances to specific other neurons. This allows sensory information and thoughts to be integrated into thoughts, autonomic responses
and behaviors. There are many elements that together have the emergent property of making
humans able to process information with their nervous systems. These elements include
membrane potentials that move towards the equilibrium potential of an ion when channels selective for that
ion close.
the physical property of phospholipid bilayers that a graded potential can move from the soma to the axon
terminal, but not from the terminal to the soma.
some neurons that integrate information from many other neurons, and others that receive inputs from fewer
presynaptic neurons.
the ability to increase the precision of representing the location of a stimulus through lateral inhibition.
voltage-gated potassium channels that open more slowly than voltage-gated sodium channels when the
membrane depolarizes.
driving forces that move ions across membranes due only to their charges, not their concentrations inside and
outside the cell.
1
action potentials that require only phospholipid bilayers, not membrane proteins.
the ability to strengthen synapses specifically when the presynaptic and post-synaptic membranes are
depolarized at the same time.