Neural transmission can be difficult concept to grasp

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Reference no: EM13340285

Neural transmission can be a difficult concept to grasp. Some people find it useful to understand the BIG picture first, before trying to grasp the small details. The BIG idea is that for something even as simple as you moving your index finger to happen, messages have to travel via electricity (movement of charged ions) from neuron to neuron. Since the neurons in your brain and body are close but not touching, the electricity has to find a way to go from neuron to neuron, otherwise the message would not travel beyond a single neuron. So, when the message comes into the dendrites and travels down a particular axon via the movement of ions in and out of the cell membrane, it will finally reach the end of the axon. At the end of the axon, we find axon terminals, and when the electricity reaches here, it causes something exciting to happen—the release of neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters “swim” across the gap between neurons and allow the message to continue on to the next neuron. Of course, this all happens incredibly fast—in order for you to lift your finger, millions of ions have moved in and out of thousands of axons!

Now, it’s time to look at the more detailed level. You need to understand the important role of neurotransmitters. Applying what you know about how drugs affect neurotransmission, explain *in your own words* why quitting smoking is so hard to do, especially if it is a long-term habit. Explain what is happening in your brain and with your natural neurotransmitters (a) while you are still smoking and (b) as soon as you stop smoking.

Reference no: EM13340285

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