How do nerve impulses travel?

Name_____________________ Class_______________ Date________

1 A nerve impulse travels along a nerve cell as an electrical impulse.

Nerve cells are not connected directly to each other, but are separated by very
small gaps called synapses. The impulse is carried across the gap by chemicals
(not electrical signals). These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. They are
carried in small packages called vesicles. The second nerve cell always has
special molecules called receptors on its surface. When the receptors and the
neurotransmitters touch an electrical impulse is stated in the second neurone.

Put the following statements in order to explain how an impulse crosses a synapse.
The first has been done for you.

• An electrical impulse travels along a nerve cell

• This causes an electrical impulse to be set up in the second nerve cell
• The neurotransmitter diffuses across the gap between the two nerve cells
• The electrical impulse reaches the end of the first nerve cell
• It attaches to special receptors on the second nerve cell
• Neurotransmitter is released from the vesicles in the first nerve cell

• An electrical impulse travels along a nerve cell

2 A variety of chemicals can affect how quickly messages are transmitted across
synapses. Some drugs speed up the nervous system, so the person feels more awake
and alert. These drugs are called stimulants. Other drugs slow down the nervous
system, so the person feels sleepy. These are called depressants.

Read these sentences.

Amphetamines Barbiturates
make you feel like (sedatives) make
you have lots of you feel sleepy.
energy when you
take them.
Caffeine helps me
to stay awake
when I am
I always feel revising.
sleepy after
I’ve had a few
pints.
Smoking cigarettes
makes my heart rate
speed up.
I can dance all
night after a
tablet of
ecstasy.

Look at these drugs.

alcohol amphetamines caffeine ecstasy sedatives tobacco

Which do you think are stimulants and which are depressants?

Write them into the correct column in the table.
Stimulants Depressants