Question

Chemicals called ___________ are stored in neurons and released when the cell is stimulated by a signal. a. toxins b. cytokines c. chemokines d. neurotransmitters

Short answer

The chemicals stored in neurons and released when the cell is stimulated by a signal are called neurotransmitters.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Function

We need to identify the chemicals stored in neurons that are released when the neurons are stimulated by signals. These chemicals are responsible for transmitting signals from one neuron to another or to other types of cells.

Eliminate Wrong Options

Knowing that we are looking for a substance involved in signal transmission between neurons, we can exclude 'toxins' as these are generally harmful substances, 'cytokines' which are involved in the immune response, and 'chemokines' which are more involved with the migration of cells. We are looking for a term specifically related to neuronal communication.

Identify the Correct Term

The correct term for the chemicals that are stored in neurons and released upon stimulation to transmit signals to other neurons or cells is 'neurotransmitters'.

Key concepts

Neuronal Communication

Understanding how neurons communicate with each other is at the heart of the neurological sciences. Neuronal communication is a highly sophisticated process involving electrical and chemical signals. For this communication to occur, a neuron generates an electrical signal that travels along its axon. This electrical impulse triggers the release of chemicals known as neurotransmitters from the synaptic vesicles within the neuron's terminal button. These neurotransmitters then cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptor sites on the adjacent neuron, causing a response that may initiate a new electrical signal. Essential to proper brain function, disruptions in this process can lead to numerous neurological disorders.

Improvements in the understanding of neuronal communication can stem from exploring the myriad types of neurotransmitters and their effects on synaptic plasticity, as well as studying the impact of external factors like drugs and hormones on synaptic responses. These insights can provide a clearer picture of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are generated and regulated.

Neuron Stimulation

Neuron stimulation is the process that leads up to the release of neurotransmitters. It begins when a neuron receives signals from either the external environment or internal cues within the body. These signals come in various forms such as sensory inputs from touch or sight, or as electrical impulses from other neurons. When the stimuli are strong enough, they lead to a change in the neuron's membrane potential, causing the neuron to become active and generate an action potential. This action potential travels down the neuron's axon to the axon terminals.

Understanding neuron stimulation is crucial for therapeutic interventions, as well. For instance, in deep brain stimulation, a common treatment for Parkinson’s disease, controlled electrical impulses are sent into specific brain regions to stimulate neural activity, thus mimicking the natural process and alleviating symptoms of the disorder. This aspect of neuron stimulation is vital for both understanding neural processes and for developing treatments.

Signal Transmission

Signal transmission is the culmination of the processes of neuronal communication and neuron stimulation. It's the method by which information travels from one neuron to another across the synapse, or from neurons to muscles or glands. When an action potential reaches the end of a neuron, it prompts the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. Once these neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the receiving neuron, they can either excite or inhibit the generation of a new action potential in that neuron, depending on the type of neurotransmitter and receptor involved.

Signal transmission is not just limited to a linear path from one neuron to another; it can involve complex networks that form circuits, allowing for more sophisticated processes such as learning, memory, and decision-making. Breakthroughs in mapping these circuits and understanding the nuances of signal transmission have vast implications in managing neurological disorders and designing artificial neural networks in the field of artificial intelligence.