Biopsychology - The Process of Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

Chemical messengers within the brain that transmit information from one neuron to another so a person can perform an action

Question 2

Where does the process of synaptic transmission begin? (1)

Answer 2

The presynaptic neuron

Question 3

Where are action potentials sent? (1)

Answer 3

They are sent down the axon until they reach the pre-synaptic terminal

Question 4

What happens when the action potentials reach the pre-synaptic terminal? (2)

Answer 4

Causes the neurotransmitters to be released into the synaptic cleft (the gap between each neuron)

Question 5

How do the neurotransmitters go across the synapse? (3)

Answer 5

Through diffusion

Question 6

What happens after the neurotransmitters diffuse through the synapse? (3)

Answer 6

They bind with their specific receptor sites that are only present on the post-synaptic neuron

Question 7

What happens once enough neurotransmitters have attached to the receptor sites on the post synaptic neuron? (4)

Answer 7

1. The next neuron is ready to fire an impulse, depending on whether the neurotransmitter has an excitatory or inhibitory effect.
2. The neurotransmitters are recycled to be stored back in the vesicles in the pre-synaptic neuron (reuptake)