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What is a neuron?

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Quick answer

A neuron is a specialized cell that carries information through your body as electrical and chemical signals. Billions of neurons connect into networks that let you sense, think, move, and remember — they're the basic building blocks of the brain.

Key things to understand

  1. Neurons are cells that transmit information as signals.
  2. They pass messages to each other across gaps called synapses.
  3. Signals are electrical inside a neuron, chemical between neurons.
  4. Networks of neurons underlie thought, memory, and movement.

People also ask

What does a neuron do?
It receives, processes, and passes on information using electrical and chemical signals.
How do neurons communicate?
They send chemicals called neurotransmitters across tiny gaps (synapses) to neighboring neurons.
How many neurons are in the brain?
The human brain has roughly 86 billion neurons, each linked to thousands of others.

Part of the guide: How Your Body Works →