Specifically, dendrites of one neuron receive signals from the axons of another neuron through neurotransmitter chemicals. The neurotransmitters set off electrical charges in the dendrites which carry the signals electrochemically to the soma. The soma integrates the information which is then transmitted electrically down the axon to its tip. .
Axonal Conduction:.
The normal electrical state of a neuron is called its "resting potential" (Fraser, 1998). This resting potential consists of a high amount of sodium ions outside of the cell membrane and positively charged potassium and negatively charged chlorine ions are in the cell. This makes for a -70-millivolt difference between the negative inside and the positive outside of the cell membrane. When neurotransmitters attach to the receptor sites on the new neurons, they are overcoming the firing threshold, and small molecular gates open up along the cell membrane. This allows the sodium ions to go into the neuron. This fast sudden change in the electrical charge of the neuron is called the polarity. When the polarity changes so that the inside becomes more positive it is called "depolarization". (Fraser, 1998). The polarity suddenly changes because positive ions are coming in, and it causes the nerve to fire. This firing of the neuron is called the "action potential". It moves down the axon and triggers either another neuron, or muscle cell, or glandular cell. The action potential or the firing of a neuron follows what is called the "all or none law" (Gleitman, 1999). That means the neurons threshold has to be overcome in order for the neuron to fire. If there is not enough change, the neuron will not fire. After this happens, another group of molecular gates open up and potassium ions come rushing out of the neuron. Since the potassium ions which have a positive charge are leaving the neuron, the inside of the neuron gets to be negative again.