PSYCHOLOGY 101

Module 5
Synapses
Synapse videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zFgT4aofA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhowH0kb7n0
MS video
https://www.msaustralia.org.au/what-is-multiple-sclerosis-ms/?
gclid=CjwKCAjwgsqoBhBNEiwAwe5w0-
_XeX8Hz0uEv70XYbwoIkboAbiOakQ6kG0dHFeO6YJ_EA9jX7ouhhoCPUUQAvD_BwE
 MULTIPLE SCEROSIS
• MS video
• https://www.msaustralia.org.au/what-is-multiple-sclerosis-ms/?
gclid=CjwKCAjwgsqoBhBNEiwAwe5w0-
_XeX8Hz0uEv70XYbwoIkboAbiOakQ6kG0dHFeO6YJ_EA9jX7ouhhoCPU
UQAvD_BwE
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the
central nervous system. It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder,
a condition in which the body attacks itself by mistake.
• MS is an unpredictable disease that affects people differently. Some
people with MS may have only mild symptoms. Others may lose
their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk when
communication between the brain and other parts of the body
becomes disrupted.
Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds
and protects nerve fibers. In MS, the
myelin is destroyed in many areas. When
the nerves are damaged in this way, they
can’t conduct electrical impulses to and
from the brain.
• There is no known single cause of MS, but many genetic
and environmental factors have been shown to
contribute to its development.

• In MS, the body’s own immune system mistakenly

attacks and damages the fatty material – called myelin
– around the nerves.

• Myelin is important for protecting and insulating nerves

so that the electrical messages that the brain sends to
the rest of the body, travel quickly and efficiently.
• As the myelin breaks down during a MS
attack, patches of nerves become exposed
which render the nerves unable to
communicate messages properly.
• This means that the brain cannot talk to
other parts of the body, resulting in a range
of symptoms that can include a loss of
motor function (e.g. walking, hand and arm
function, loss of sensation, pain, vision
changes and changes to thinking and
memory).
• MS is the most common neurological disease
affecting young adults.

• It is often diagnosed between the ages of 20 to

40

• Affects three times more women than men.

• As yet, there is no cure.

•Action potential = neural impulse that travels down the axon &
branches with thousands of other neurons.
•

•
•When the action potential reaches the terminal it releases a neurotransmitter

•Neurotransmitters = chemicals that carry impulses across the synapse

• Synapse = gap between the axon terminal & dendrite of the receiving neuron

• Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic gap and bind with receptor sites on the
receiving neuron
•The neurotransmitter precisely fits the receptor site like a lock and key
• This will trigger either an excitatory or inhibitory response on the receiving neuron