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14) Synapses Flashcards

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1
Q

IPSP

A

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential

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2
Q

EPSP - abbreviation

A

Excitatory postsynaptic potential

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3
Q

EPSP - definition

A

depolarization of the neuron

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4
Q

IPSP - definition

A

hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic neuron

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5
Q

What pattern do neurons fire in?

A

They fire spontaneously at regular rates

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6
Q

What effect does ipsp have on the rate of APs in the post synaptic neuron

A

decrease

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7
Q

for epsps to increase the rate of APs in the post synaptic neuron what needs to happen

A

the firing needs to be above the threshold

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8
Q

AP

A

Action potential

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9
Q

Synapse

A

Gap between neurons where chemical information is transmitted

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10
Q

where is action potential

A

presynaptic neuron

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11
Q

where is postsynaptic neuron

A

post synaptic neuron

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12
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical particles used to transmit the information through the synapse are called neurotransmitters

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13
Q

tell me about the stability of the amount of neurotransmitters

A

unstable

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14
Q

explain synaptic process

A

AP in presynaptic neuron - changes at end of presynaptic neurons membrane - into ‘holes’ in the membrane
- neurotransmitters released into the gap and diffuse across to the postsynaptic neuron
- where they bind to receptors - opening holes in the postsynaptic neuron’s membrane
- this movement of ions in/out of the gap causes post synaptic potential in the postsynaptic neuron

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15
Q

detailed explanation of presynaptic synaptic process

A

action potential reaches end of axon
depolarization opens calcium gates in the pre synaptic membrane
this provokes the sudden release of neurotransmitters into a synaptic cleft.

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16
Q

what effect do synapses have on the speed of transmission

A

slow transmission
transmission takes 2ms (0.0000001cm/ms)

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17
Q

how long does synaptic transmission take

A

transmission takes 2ms (0.0000001cm/ms)

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18
Q

what is the speed of conduction along an axon

A

4cm/ms

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19
Q

outline a neurotransmitters journey

A

diffuses across the synaptic gap to reach post synaptic membrane where it is attached to the receptors
then neurotransmitter binds to the receptor gates open in the postsynaptic membrane

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20
Q

what effect does the quantity of NTs have

A

the quantity of NTs released impacts the robustness of changes in the post synaptic membrane

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21
Q

what is a synapses function

A

to send chemical information through the gap and open ions’ gates in the post synaptic neuron

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22
Q

How does sodium move through an excitatory synapse

A

sodium gates open - sodium ions enter the postsynaptic neuron - EPSP

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23
Q

how do chloride and potassium move through the inhibitory synapse

A

chloride gates open - chloride ions enter postsynaptic neuron - IPSP
potassium gates open - potassium ions leave the post synaptic neuron - IPSP

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24
Q

What element is associated with excitatory synapse

A

Sodium - Na+

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25
What elements are associated with inhibitory synapses
Potassium and Chloride
26
Three examples of excitatory neurotransmitters
glutamate epinephrine norepinephryne
27
glutamate
excitatory NT
28
epinephrine
excitatory NT
29
norepinephryne
excitatory NT
30
two examples of inhibitory NTs
GABA glycine
31
GABA
Gamma aminobutyric acid inhibitory NT
32
glycine
inhibitory NT
33
three examples of NTs that can be both inhib and excit
acetylcholine dopamine serotonin
34
acetylcholine
inhib and excit NT
35
dopamine
inhib and excit NT
36
serotonin
inhib and excit NT
37
receptors
chemicals specific to a given type of neurotransmitter - each type of NT interact with multiple different types of receptors
38
what are the two types of receptors
ionotropic and metabotropic
39
ionotropic receptors
open fast gatest
40
excit and inhib examples of ionotropic receptor
glutamate - excitatory GABA - inhibitory
41
Metabotropic
open slow gates
42
ionotropic effects on postsynaptic membrane
as soon as NT binds to a receptor on the membrane - the ion gates open
43
what is the speed of the ionotropic effect
the process starts in 1ms and lasts for 20ms
44
metabotropic effects on postsynaptic membranes
a sequence of metabolic changes in a larger area of the cell
45
speed of metabotropic effects
the process starts in 30ms and lasts for seconds, minutes or longer
46
what two processes use ionotropic synapses
vision hearing
47
what three processes use metabotropic synapses
taste hunger fear
48
neuromodulators
chemicals affecting metabotropic receptors - distinguishes them from the fast effects of the NTs at ionotropic synapses
49
what chemicals may activate metabotropic receptors
dopamine norepinephrine serotonin neuropeptides glutamate GABA
50
how many NTs do the majority of neurons release?
two or more each neuron may respond to all types of NTs received at postsynaptic membrane of different synapses
51
synaptic strength
plasticity the strength of a synapse is defined by the size of the postsynaptic potential
52
how may synaptic strength vary?
varies over time short term changes - seconds minutes long term changes - memory, learning effects, brain plasticity
53
long term potentiation
intensive use of a synapse may lead to its potentiation - and therefore stronger effects on postsynaptic membrane the mechanism behind memory and learning
54
name two ways that plasticity effects brain development
synaptogenesis (formation of synapses) synaptic pruning (elimination of unnecessary synapses - age 2 to 16)
55
what happens to used NTs three options
action must be terminated to stop effect on the receptor and to allow frequent responding reuptake broken down diffuse
56
reuptake (NTs)
brings NTs back to the presynaptic neuron (by transporters) recycling process concerns serotonin and catecholamines
57
catecholamines
dopamine norepinephrine epinephrine
58
break down of NTs
eg acetylcholine broken down to remove used NTs
59
diffusion of used NTs
big NTs (peptides) simply diffuse away
60
enzymatic degradation
broken down by acetylcholinesterase into acetate and choline
61
acetylcholine breakdown official name
enzymatic degradation
62
what cells reabsorb NTs at some synapses
glial cells
63
how does reabsorption affect synaptic activity
grants of withholds absorption of NTs
64
astrocyte
an astrocyte encloses the synapse where it absorbs the neurotransmitter glutamate (Glu) from the cleft and recycles glutamate into its precursor glutamine (Gln). Glutamine returns to the presynaptic terminal for re-use.
65
what are the two types of pharmaceutics that affect synaptic transmission
agonist and antagonist
66
agonist pharmeceutic
facilitate transmission at synapses
67
antagonist pharmaceutic
inhibit transmission at synapses
68
what do agonist/ antagonist pharmaceutics affect
the amount of neurotransmitter in the cleft
69
risks related to synapses (8)
amphetamine cocaine methylphenidate (Ritalin) MDMA/ Ecstasy Nicotine Opiates (heroin/ morphine) Cannabinoids (marijuana) Hallucinogens (LSD)
70
Amphetamine
Blocks reuptake of dopamine and several others transmitters
71
Cocaine
Blocks reuptake of dopamine and several others transmitters
72
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Blocks reuptake of dopamine and others , but gradually
73
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Releases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
74
Nicotine
Stimulates nicotinic-feedback receptors on presynaptic cells
75
Opiates (heroin/ morphine)
stimulates endorphin receptors
76
cannabinoids (marijuana)
excites negative-feedback receptors on presynaptic cells
77
hallucinogens (LSD)
stimulates serotonin type 2A receptors ((5-HT)2a)
78
SSRIs
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
79
ssris process
reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft is reduced - serotonin may bind to receptors several times
80
drug addiction
brain disease that produces profound modifications in human behaviour
81
alcohol effects in normal people
increases dopamine release
82
alcohol effects on alcoholics
reduced number of dopamine receptors reduced dopamine release meaning craving
83
characteristics of risk of addiction
not everyone runs the same risk dopamine uses several different receptor types people at risk of addiction are characterised by specific balance of different types of receptors (research in progress)

Biological (9 decks)

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