Neural conduction and synaptic transmission

Assignment Brief

PSY1003 Assignment Instructions

This assignment has been designed with the aim of enhancing your understanding of the module topics.  It will form (30%) of your mark for this module. The maximum word count for this assignment is 1000 words. You will hopefully learn a lot throughout your degree. The knowledge you develop is important and should be shared. The approach you take to sharing this knowledge will depend on the intended audience.

The assignment should be written in the form of a ‘blog’. Please choose an appropriate title for your blog. The blog itself is comprised of two parts:

Part A (approx. 500 words)

The aim of this section is to explain something that you have learnt from this module so far to someone who has no prior knowledge of psychology or neuroscience. You can choose any topic that has been covered in the following lectures. You do not need to summarize the entire lecture (or corresponding chapter from the reading list); instead we suggest that you focus on an aspect of the lecture / chapter that you are interested in:

• Introduction to Psychopathology

• The Anatomy of the Nervous System

• Neural conduction and synaptic transmission

• Research Methods in Neuroscience

• Classification and Assessment in Clinical Psychology

Start with a brief description of what you are explaining. This can be anything that you have found significant, memorable, or interesting from the content covered in the above lectures. The way in which you explain this is up to you, as long as you feel that it helps the intended audience (a novice) to develop their understanding. The markers will be looking for clarity in the explanation and the appropriateness of your approach for your intended audience. You may include diagrams if you think this will facilitate understanding.

Part B (approx. 500 words)

The aim of this section is to critically reflect the decisions you have made. Critical reflection is about considering your own thoughts, feelings and experiences and determining how they fit in with the ideas, concepts and theories presented to you. The types of points you might include here are:

• Why did you decide to choose to explain this topic?

• Why was this interesting to you?

• Why is it important to understand this topic?

• How is this relevant to things you may encounter in daily life, and / or important issues that have been in the news recently?

• Has this content changed or influenced your views and understanding of the topic?

Sample Answer

How Neurons Talk: The Hidden Language of the Brain

Part A – Explaining Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission

If you’ve ever wondered how a thought becomes an action, like deciding to pick up your phone or smile at a friend, the answer lies in the way your brain’s cells talk to each other. This conversation between brain cells, known as neural conduction and synaptic transmission, is one of the most fascinating and fundamental processes in neuroscience.

At its core, the brain is made up of billions of neurons, which are special cells that send and receive information. You can think of a neuron as a tiny electrical wire that transmits signals. Each neuron has three main parts: the cell body, which keeps it alive; dendrites, which receive messages; and an axon, which sends messages out to other neurons.

Communication begins when a neuron becomes activated by a signal. This signal could come from another neuron, a sensory input (like a sound or touch), or even an internal thought. When activated, the neuron generates a small burst of electricity called an action potential. Imagine a wave travelling along a wire, that’s essentially what’s happening along the axon.

Once the action potential reaches the end of the axon, the electrical signal can’t simply jump to the next neuron, because there’s a tiny gap called a synapse. Instead, the neuron releases chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters into this gap. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to receptors on the next neuron, effectively passing along the message.

Different neurotransmitters have different effects. For example, dopamine is often linked to pleasure and motivation, while serotonin helps regulate mood and sleep. This delicate chemical balance is crucial for healthy brain function, too much or too little of certain neurotransmitters can contribute to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.

What makes this process so remarkable is how fast and precise it is. Neural signals can travel at speeds up to 120 metres per second, and every moment of thought, emotion, and movement depends on this constant flow of communication.

To put it simply, neural conduction and synaptic transmission are how the brain “talks to itself”. Every sensation you feel, memory you recall, or decision you make relies on these tiny but powerful electrical and chemical exchanges.

Even though we can’t see it happening, this invisible language of the brain is the reason we can experience the world, learn new things, and connect with others, all within milliseconds.

Part B – Critical Reflection

I chose to write about neural conduction and synaptic transmission because it’s one of those topics that completely changed how I think about human behaviour. Before studying psychology, I tended to think of emotions and thoughts as abstract, things that “just happen.” Learning that every idea or feeling is the result of microscopic electrical signals and chemical exchanges made me appreciate how biological and psychological processes are deeply intertwined.

What drew me most to this topic is its universality. Whether someone is laughing, learning a language, or struggling with anxiety, neurons are at the heart of it all. The sheer scale and precision of these neural interactions fascinated me. It’s incredible to realise that everything from creativity to mental illness can be traced back, at least partly, to how efficiently our neurons communicate.

Another reason I found this topic meaningful is its relevance to mental health, which has become a major issue in recent years. In news and public discussions, there’s increasing recognition that conditions like depression or schizophrenia are not simply “emotional” or “psychological” problems, but disorders with biological roots, often involving disrupted neurotransmission. For example, antidepressant medications such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work by influencing serotonin levels in the brain’s synapses. Understanding synaptic transmission helps explain why these treatments can take weeks to work and why they affect people differently.

This knowledge also helps challenge stigma. Knowing that mental health conditions can arise from chemical imbalances rather than personal weakness encourages more empathy and scientific understanding. That’s a shift I’ve noticed not just in myself, but in broader society.

On a personal level, learning about neural communication has made me more curious about how daily habits affect brain function. Sleep, diet, stress, and even social interaction can all influence neurotransmitter activity. For instance, regular exercise boosts endorphins and serotonin, improving mood naturally. This makes neuroscience feel not just theoretical but practically relevant to everyday wellbeing.

Continued...