Neuroscience

The synaptic connections that define such circuits are typically made in a dense tangle of dendrites, axons terminals, and glial cell processes that together constitute what is called neuropil. Knee-Jerk Response The knee-jerk reflex (also known as the patellar reflex) is a classic example of a mono-synaptic reflex arc, which involves a direct connection between sensory and motor neurons, as well as inhibitory circuits to regulate movement. This is important for us if we fall and hit something. ...

Humans are not rational. See (Dostoevsky 1864), the parable of the destroying free will. In this note we will describe some behavioural economics ideas that could be interesting in this side. We will see dopamine response will be very important in this context, and see how we can interpret it as an utility. Economical Games The rules of the Ultimatum game The proposer makes an offer as to how this money should be split between the two. The second player (the risponder) can either accept or reject this offer. If it is accepted, the money is split as proposed, but if the risponder rejects the offer, then neither player receives anything. ...

Synapses are the connections that exist between one neuron and another, so we can think of them as the communication channel between neurons. Gap Junctions Electrical based These are also called Gap Junctions These are more direct connections between neurons, allowing excitation ions to pass through quite directly (this is the difference compared to chemically based ones). It’s a circuit more similar to an electronic one because it’s faster. The end of the presynapsic part is called axon bouton, or axon terminal. Another characteristic of these kinds of synapses is that they are two-way channels. ...

Introduction to the Course What is a neural system? A neural system is an intricately organized network of specialized cells—primarily neurons, along with a variety of supportive glial cells—that processes and transmits information via electrical and chemical signals. In biological organisms, such systems underpin the entire nervous system, coordinating functions that range from basic reflexes to the complex interplay of perception, thought, and behavior. Early studies in neurobiology revealed that even simple neural circuits can generate coordinated responses, while modern neuroscience has shown that vast, hierarchically structured networks (such as the central and peripheral nervous systems) are responsible for the rich tapestry of animal behavior and cognition ...