Neuron - Psychology Definition of the Week

Definition: A neuron is a type of cell that is designed to communicate information throughout the body. Neurons make up the basic building blocks of the nervous system. Experts estimate that there are approximately 100 billion neurons in the human brain. Like other cells in the body, neurons are surrounded by a membrane and have a nucleus that contains genes. However, they differ from other cells in that they are specialized to transmit information. Neurons have projections known as dendrites and axons that are designed to bring in information and carry it outward from the cell body toward other neurons.

Learn more about some of the things that make these cells unique in this overview of neurons.

Related Reading:

• The Structure of a Neuron
• Brain Anatomy
• The Nervous and Endocrine Systems

_{Image courtesy Piotr Bizior}