sodium amytal test: anesthetize one hemisphere and check for language function; dichotic listening test: report more digits heard by dominant half; functional brain imaging: fMRI or PET used to see which half is active when performing a language test speech laterality and handedness sex differences in brain lateralization
A typical neuron has characteristic features: a cell body, dendrites and an axon. The axon projects from the cell body and makes contact with a target cell at the synapse. A neuron is stimulated by signals, chemical and electrical, to initiate an action potential (a rapid and reversible change in membrane potential). In the absence of a signal, the resting potential of the neuron is maintained by the potassium leak channels, which allow the flow of potassium ions out of the cell, resulting in a more negative charge in the cell when compared to outside the cell.
Typically, a stimulus causes ionic changes in the receptor neuron's dendrites, which lead to the formation of action potentials in the receptor neurons. These action potentials travel the sensory neuron, which connects to a motor neuron (and possibly an ascending neuron) in the spinal cord.The action potential causes neurotransmitter release within the presynaptic cell. The neurotransmitter binds to the postsynaptic cell and elicits an action potential there.he nervous system has many types of sensory neurons. Nerve endings on one end of each neuron are encased in a special structure to sense a specific stimulus. 1  Chemoreceptors sense chemicals. 2  The olfactory bulb that monitors your sense of smell has chemoreceptors that sense odors (chemicals in the air).