The Most Amazing Machine: Influence of Neurotransmitters, The
After the electrical signal, also called the action potential, reaches the end of the axon it stimulates the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers carry information from the sending neuron across the synaptic gap...
The Great Mystery: Functions of Sleep
Although the exact functions of sleep are unknown, researchers believe it serves a restorative function, providing a period when the body can heal and get ready for the next day. Some think that sleep is related to thermoregulation of the temperatur...
The Great Mystery: REM Sleep
During REM sleep eye movement and brainwaves are very active, but everything else seems paralyzed. Even the thermoregulatory system does not work during REM sleep. Newborn infants sleep about 16 hours a day, half of which is REM sleep. This leads re...