Glial cells (neuroglia) are non-neuronal cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems that support, nourish, and protect neurons, with some types forming the myelin sheath that speeds up neural transmission.
Glial cells, or neuroglia, are the cells that take care of your neurons. They don't fire action potentials themselves, but neurons couldn't do their job without them. Think of glial cells as the support crew: they hold neurons in place, feed them nutrients, clean up waste, and wrap insulation around axons.
There are a few main types you'll see named. Astrocytes support and nourish neurons and help regulate the chemical environment around them. Microglia act like the immune system of the brain, clearing out damaged cells and debris. Oligodendrocytes (and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system) produce the myelin sheath, the fatty coating that wraps around axons and lets signals travel faster. So when a question asks what speeds up neural transmission, the answer traces back to a glial cell doing its job.
Glial cells live in Unit 2: Cognition, anchored to topics 2.3 (Overview of the Nervous System and the Neuron) and 2.6 (The Brain). They matter because they're the backstage half of how the nervous system actually works. Neurons get all the attention, but glial cells make myelin, and myelin is why your reflexes and thoughts happen fast instead of slow. Understanding them sets up the bigger Unit 2 themes of how the brain processes, stores, and retrieves information, including the synaptic changes behind learning and memory.
Keep studying AP Psychology Unit 2
Oligodendrocytes and the Myelin Sheath (Unit 2)
Oligodendrocytes are the specific glial cells that build myelin in the brain and spinal cord. If a question asks what insulates axons to speed up impulses, this is the chain: glial cell makes myelin, myelin speeds the signal.
Astrocytes and Microglia (Unit 2)
These are the other big glial types. Astrocytes feed and support neurons and manage their chemical surroundings, while microglia clean up dead cells and act as the brain's immune defense.
The Neuron (Unit 2)
Glial cells only make sense next to the neuron, the basic working unit of the nervous system. Neurons send the signals; glial cells make sure those signals stay fast, fed, and protected.
Glial cells show up in multiple-choice questions about the nervous system, usually paired with the function of myelin. Expect stems like "What type of cells provide myelin to speed up transmission?" or "What insulates axons to speed up neural impulses?" The skill is matching the cell type to its job, especially oligodendrocytes to myelin. You may also see them contrasted with neurons in a question about the basic unit of the nervous system (that's the neuron, not the glial cell). No released FRQ has used this term verbatim, but knowing how myelin speeds transmission supports questions that challenge the idea that synaptic transmission is always fast.
Neurons are the cells that actually fire and carry information; they're the basic unit of the nervous system. Glial cells are the support cells around them, and they don't generate action potentials. Easy rule: neurons send the message, glial cells make the message travel fast and keep the neuron healthy.
Glial cells (neuroglia) support, nourish, and protect neurons but do not fire signals themselves.
Oligodendrocytes are the glial cells that form the myelin sheath, which speeds up neural transmission.
Astrocytes nourish neurons and regulate their chemical environment; microglia clean up debris and defend against damage.
The neuron is the basic unit of the nervous system, while glial cells are its support crew.
If an MCQ asks what insulates axons or speeds up impulses, trace it back to myelin made by glial cells.
Glial cells, also called neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems that support and protect neurons. Some types, like oligodendrocytes, make the myelin sheath that speeds up neural transmission.
No. Glial cells do not generate or transmit action potentials. They support neurons by nourishing them, cleaning up waste, and forming myelin, while neurons do the actual signaling.
Neurons are the basic working units that carry information through action potentials. Glial cells are the support cells around them, handling nourishment, protection, and insulation but not signaling themselves.
Oligodendrocytes make myelin in the central nervous system, and Schwann cells make it in the peripheral nervous system. The myelin sheath is what lets neural impulses travel faster.
Yes, they can appear in Unit 2 multiple-choice questions, usually tied to myelin and the speed of neural transmission. Know the three main types (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes) and what each does.