Chapter 3: Drugs and Neurotransmitters

Question 1

Psychopharmacology:

Answer 1

Understanding the effects of drugs in the brain by looking at the chemical transmission process in the synapse.

Question 2

Agonist:

Answer 2

Drug that increases neurotransmission by increasing the action of neurotransmitters.

Question 3

Antagonists:

Answer 3

Drugs that diminish/block the function of a neurotransmitter.

Question 4

Glutamate:

Answer 4

Excitatory NT (enhances the transmission of information between neurons), learning/ memory. 
Excited neurons.

Question 5

GABA:

Answer 5

Primary inhibitory NT in the brain: blocks neurotransmission between neurons.

Reduces anxiety by slowing down anxiety-inducing neurotransmission.

Question 6

Dopamine:

Answer 6

A pleasure and reward neurotransmitter.
Important for memory, learning, behaviour, and movement coordination.

Reward, movement, organized in pathways (moves in specific ways in the brain), with the cell bodies in the midbrain.
Big part of our ability to think and helps focus and find things interesting.

Question 7

Serotonin:

Answer 7

Is a mood stabilizer: affects mood and behaviour. Helps people feel happy, calm, focused, and emotionally stable.

Question 8

Norepinephrine:

Answer 8

Increases alertness, arousal and speeds reaction time. Plays a role in a person’s mood and ability to concentrate.

Question 9

Acetylcholine (ACh):

Answer 9

Activates muscle movements and helps in regulating attention, learning, sleeping [promotes REM sleep], dreaming, and memory.

Question 10

Endorphins:

Answer 10

Reduces pain and elevates moods (increases feelings of pleasure and wellbeing). Release of endorphins is in the brain.

Question 11

Stimulants:

Answer 11

Drugs that excite neural activity, speeds up bodily functions (caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines)

Question 12

Depressants:

Answer 12

Drugs that reduce neural activity, slows down bodily functions (alcohol, barbiturates, opiates).