1. Your Brain: Use it or Lose it
The Zombie Diaries
Your Brain: Use it or Lose it
Created by: Deb Byrne

2. Lesson 1

3. OVERVIEW
What’s the Big Idea?:
To understand the physical aspects of a neuron, its pathways, and how messages are sent across the pathways (neurotransmission).
-Choose a partner
-Go to a computer and grab a packet from the end of the table
-View pages of this PowerPoint
-Find a quiet spot. Use the neuron puzzle in the packet to create and label the important parts with your partner
-Give your final picture an official name and be ready to present it to the class
-After presentations, join your partner and look at slides of this powerpoint
-Get ready for a neurotransmission game

4. Neurons and Neurotransmission

5. I want you to be able to answer these questions:
What is a neuron?
What does it do ?
How does it do it?

6. A Neuron is:
A specialized cell that receives information and transmits it to other cells

7. A Neuron

8. Neuron under an electron microscope

9. Make Your Own Neuron Dendrite Axon Soma (cell body) Nucleus
Myelin Sheath
Terminal Buttons

10. How Does it Work? Neurotransmission is
a fancy name for two or more neurons communicating with each other.
There are 4 neurons communicating in the picture to the right or you could say that neurotransmission is taking place 1 3 4 2

11. Neurotransmitters
are released from
terminal buttons and
cross the tiny space
between it and the
next neuron called the
synaptic gap.

12. Now let’s watch two animated version of neurotransmission
Now let’s watch two animated version of neurotransmission. Click on the links below
Neurotransmitter Synapse 3D Animation
Neuron – 3D Medical Animation

13. Neurotransmitters
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries signals between neurons as well as other cells in the body. These chemicals are released from the end of one neuron and cross the synapse to receptor sites in the next neuron.