2006-09-04 16:29:48 · 7 answers · asked by seyi16914 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
There are a few things you could call the message.
What is transmitted within a nerve cell is known as an action potential. These are basically electrical signals that pass at high speed down neurons (nerve branches) and are generated by complex balances of Calcium, Magnesium and Sodium ions inside and outside the cell.
When these action potentials reach the end of the neuron where it contacts another neuron, the action potential causes the nerve cell to release a small amount of various chemicals, called neurotransmitters. These chemicals are released by one cell and then picked up as messages by receptors on another cell. The process of sending and receiving the message is called synaptic transmission.
The messages sent between nerve cells, to answer your specific question, are the neurotransmitters described above, such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and many others.
2006-09-04 23:09:37 · answer #1 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Impulses.
2006-09-05 13:04:30 · answer #2 · answered by moosa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to Wikipedia (bookmark this), it is called "action potential".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_signal
2006-09-04 16:33:49 · answer #3 · answered by Mark4505 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
stimuli and response or a synapse
2006-09-05 00:48:18 · answer #4 · answered by kristina 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"action potentials" is somewhat accurate, but "impulses" is a bit closer.
2006-09-04 16:36:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
synapse
2006-09-04 23:25:20 · answer #6 · answered by Salvation man 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
synapse
2006-09-04 16:31:30 · answer #7 · answered by borscht 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋