Chemicals

Question 1

Oxytocin

hormone

Answer 1

Function – hormone released during childbirth for uterine contractions & lactation after childbirth.

Location – forebrain -> hypothalamus -> pituitary gland

Question 2

Vasopressin
ADH anitdiuretic hormone

hormone

Answer 2

Function – hormone that regulates water balance in the kidneys

Location – forebrain -> hypothalamus -> pituitary gland

Question 3

GABA

neurotransmitter

Answer 3

Function – memory, sleep, movement, & emotion; motor control; primary inhibitor

Damage –
* low levels linked with anxiety, mania, insomnia, seizures, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s

Drugs-
* benzodiazepine increases this, reducing anxiety.

Question 4

Endorphins

hormone

Answer 4

Function – pleasure, well-being, & pain reduction; inhibitor; similar effects to opioids.

Location – pituitary gland + hypothalamus during exercise

Question 5

Glutamate

neurotransmitter

Answer 5

Function – movement, emotion, memory, & learning; major excitatory; essential for long-term potentiation -> essential for forming memories

Damage –
* excessive activity linked with brain damage & death associated with strokes, seizures, TBIs, Huntington’s, & Alzheimer’s

Question 6

Dopamine

neurotransmitter

Answer 6

Function – movement, emotion, memory, & learning; reinforcing effects of substance use.

Damage –
* abnormal levels linked to Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Tourette’s, ADHD, depression, & schizophrenia
* high levels in subcortical regions linked with positive schizophrenia symptoms
* low levels in cortical regions linked with negative schizophrenia symptoms

Question 7

Acetylcholine
(Ach)

neurotransmitter

Answer 7

Function – movement & memory; voluntary movement through skeletal muscle contractions + regulates smooth + cardiac muscles linked to arousal & attention.

Damage –
* low levels in the hippocampus linked to early Alzheimer’s

Question 8

Norepinephrine

neurotransmitter

Answer 8

Function – sleep, mood, & memory; arousal & learning.

Damage –
* abnormal levels linked to ADHD
* high levels linked to mania + stress
* low levels linked to depression + Parkinson’s

Question 9

Serotonin
(5-HT)

neurotransmitter

Answer 9

Function – sleep, mood, pain, aggression, hunger, body temp, & sexual activity.

Damage –
* high levels linked to anorexia, ASD, & schizophrenia
* low levels linked to depression + increased risk of suicide, OCD, bulimia, & migraines

Question 10

Dopamine Pathways

chemical system

Answer 10

Function – transmits dopamine from one brain area to another

Includes – mesolimbic, mesocortical, tuberoinfundibular, and nigrostriatal pathways.

Question 11

Mesocortical Pathways

chemical system

Answer 11

Function – a dopaminergic pathway that influences emotion, motivation, & executive function

Location – various cortex (prefrontal)

Question 12

Tuberoinfundibular Pathways

chemical system

Answer 12

Function – a dopaminergic pathway that influences hormone production.

Location – hypothalamus to the pituitary gland

Question 13

Nigrostriatal Pathways

chemical system

Answer 13

Function – a dopaminergic pathway that influences purposeful movement.

Location – substantia nigra to the dorsal striatum

Question 14

Mesolimbic Pathways

chemical system

Answer 14

Function – a dopaminergic pathway that is essential for reward-circuit and influences substance use effects.