What Are Neurons?

Neurons are specialized cells in the nervous system that are responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. They are the fundamental building blocks of the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system, as well as the peripheral nervous system.

Neurons have a unique structure that allows them to communicate with other cells. They have a cell body, which contains the nucleus and other organelles, and two types of processes called dendrites and axons. Dendrites receive signals from other neurons and transmit them to the cell body, while axons transmit signals away from the cell body to other neurons or to muscles and glands.

The communication between neurons is accomplished through the transmission of electrical and chemical signals. When a neuron receives a signal, it generates an electrical impulse called an action potential, which travels down the axon to the axon terminal.

 At the axon terminal, the electrical impulse triggers the release of chemical neurotransmitters, which cross the gap between neurons called the synapse, and bind to receptors on the receiving neuron. This process allows the signal to be transmitted from one neuron to the next, allowing for communication and coordination throughout the nervous system.

How is the Human Body Electric? Biopsychology and Spirit

Have you ever wondered where energy comes from? When we speak about the human body, there is a physical, electric energy that we make. Besides spiritual energy, which is more of a mystical concept, all humans create electrical energy. This is an important part of life and what gives us the "spark" of life. It is also how our brains and spinal cord send signals to control some of the most important functions of life and where our consciousness comes from.

The human body is electric because it generates and conducts electrical signals through various physiological processes. One of the most important systems responsible for this is the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Nerve cells, also known as neurons, communicate with each other by sending electrical signals, called action potentials, from one end of the neuron to the other. These signals travel along the neuron's axon, which is surrounded by a fatty sheath called myelin that helps to insulate and speed up the transmission of the signal. 

The electrical signals generated by neurons can be measured with instruments such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) or electromyogram (EMG), which are used to diagnose and monitor conditions related to the nervous system.

In addition to the nervous system, other parts of the body also generate electrical signals. For example, the heart generates electrical signals that regulate its rhythm and the muscles in the body generate electrical signals that control their contractions.

Overall, the human body is electric due to the various electrical signals generated by different physiological processes, especially those related to the nervous system.

Here is a wonderful educational series that explores the basis of Biopsychology.