Neuron Physiology

Abstract

In this chapter we will describe the morphology and physiology of neurons in much more detail, with particular emphasis on the ways in which molecules spanning the neuron membrane result in detection and integration of signals received from other neurons. At each point in time a neuron receives large numbers of external signals, most derived from other neurons. The internal chemistry of neurons results in the detection and integration of all the external signals and determines their current outputs and any changes to their integration algorithms. Hence understanding of how signals are received by neurons and integrated by chemical processes to influence current and future outputs is the detailed basis for understanding neural information processing.