Neurophysiology
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780190209407.003.0005
The temporal profile that has not been considered is the transient, or rapidly reversible, abnormality. Many diseases that produce signs or symptoms of brief duration may not produce destructive changes in cells and may occur without demonstrable histologic abnormality of the involved structures. To understand transient manifestations of disease, it is necessary to understand the physiology of the cells of the nervous system and the mechanism by which they process information. Cells in the nervous system and muscle communicate by electrical signals. Neurons have the ability to generate, conduct, transmit, and respond to electrical activity. Information is transmitted between cells by neurochemical agents that convey the signals from cell to cell. Information is integrated by the interaction of electrical activity in single cells and in groups of cells.
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