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PSYC359 > Lecture 1.2 > Flashcards

Lecture 1.2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What does excitatory mean?

A

To excite the neuron and cause it to fire and pass along the message.

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2
Q

What does inhibitory mean?

A

To block or prevent messages from being passed along.

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3
Q

What does modulatory mean?

A

To influence effects of other chemical messengers by adjusting synaptic communication.

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4
Q

What does diffusion mean?

A

Neurotransmitter drifts out of the synaptic cleft.

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5
Q

What does reuptake mean?

A

Neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the neuron that released it.

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6
Q

What does degradation mean?

A

Neurotransmitter is broken down by enzymes.

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7
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is adrenaline referred to as?

A

Fight or flight neurotransmitter.

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8
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is noradrenaline referred to as?

A

Concentration neurotransmitter.

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9
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is dopamine referred to as?

A

Pleasure neurotransmitter.

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10
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is serotonin referred to as?

A

Mood neurotransmitter.

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11
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is GABA referred to as?

A

Calming neurotransmitter.

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12
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is acetylcholine referred to as?

A

Learning neurotransmitter.

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13
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is glutamate referred to as?

A

Memory neurotransmitter.

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14
Q

What type of neurotransmitter is endorphins referred to as?

A

Euphoria neurotransmitter.

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15
Q

What is the blood-brain barrier?

A

A semi-permeable membrane that regulates molecule and ion movement between CNS and PNS.

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16
Q

What are essential amino acids?

A

Precursor molecules to neurotransmitters/hormones that cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained via diet.

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17
Q

What is tryptophan?

A

A precursor to serotonin.

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18
Q

What is tyrosine?

A

A precursor to dopamine.

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19
Q

What is phenylalanine?

A

A precursor to dopamine.

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20
Q

What is the ventral tegmental area (VTA)?

A

Central part of reward pathways.

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21
Q

What is the function of vasoconstriction?

A

To reduce the height and width of blood vessels which increases heart rate and blood pressure.

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22
Q

What are monoamines?

A

Molecules that have a single amine group.

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23
Q

What are the 3 possible actions that a neurotransmitter can take?

A

Excitation, inhibition, modulation.

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24
Q

After neurotransmission occurs, what 3 things can happen to that neurotransmitter?

A

Diffusion, reuptake, degradation.

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25
What are the 8 key neurotransmitters?
Adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, glutamate, endorphins.
26
Where are neurotransmitters located/found?
Both in the CNS and PNS.
27
What separates the CNS and PNS pools?
Blood-brain barrier.
28
What differences are there in the CNS and PNS pools?
Sources of synthesis, receptor sites, and actions.
29
How are hormones and neurotransmitters different?
Hormones function in the endocrine system and neurotransmitters in the nervous system.
30
What is serotonin sometimes referred to as?
5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).
31
Is serotonin considered excitatory or inhibitory?
Inhibitory.
32
What is the precursor molecule to serotonin and how can it be produced?
Tryptophan, produced by eating eggs, fish, nuts, seeds.
33
How is serotonin synthesis produced?
Both in the gastrointestinal tract (enteric neurons) and the brain (raphe nuclei).
34
What is serotonin's function in the PNS?
Gastric motility and digestion, feelings of nausea and anxiety, metabolic homeostasis, wound healing, bone health, and affect/behaviour regulation.
35
What is serotonin's function in the CNS?
Regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, and cognition.
36
Serotonergic pathways project from what brain area?
Raphe nuclei.
37
What other brain areas are involved in the serotonergic pathway? What is serotonin's function in each area?
Prefrontal cortex: modulates neuronal firing rate to regulate cognitive function. Basal ganglia: regulates voluntary movements and habit formation. Limbic areas: modulates neuronal firing rate to regulate affective function. Hypothalamus: regulates eating behavior, energy homeostasis, and body weight. Brain stem: interacts with melatonin to regulate the sleep/wake cycle.
38
What is dopamine sometimes referred to as?
3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine (DA).
39
Is dopamine considered excitatory or inhibitory?
Both excitatory and inhibitory.
40
What is the precursor molecule to dopamine and how can it be produced?
Tyrosine and phenylalanine, obtained via protein, dairy, and nuts.
41
How is dopamine synthesis produced?
In the adrenal glands and the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area (VTA).
42
What is dopamine's function in the PNS?
Fight or flight responses, blood pressure, respiration, gastrointestinal motility, and circadian rhythms.
43
What is dopamine's function in the CNS?
Reward-mediated behavior, movement, appetite, mood, and memory.
44
Dopaminergic pathways project from what brain area?
Substantia nigra.
45
What other brain areas are involved in the dopaminergic pathway? What is dopamine's function in each area?
Basal ganglia: modulates movement control. Nucleus accumbens: associated with anticipation and experience of reward. Prefrontal cortex: modulates neuronal firing rate to regulate cognitive function. Hypothalamus: regulates eating behaviors, energy homeostasis, body weight, and sexual function.
46
What is norepinephrine sometimes referred to as?
3,4, B-trihydroxyphenethylamine (NE).
47
Is norepinephrine considered excitatory or inhibitory?
Primarily inhibitory, but can be excitatory.
48
What is the precursor molecule to norepinephrine and how can it be produced?
Tyrosine and phenylalanine (precursors to dopamine).
49
How is norepinephrine synthesis produced?
Both in the adrenal glands and the locus coeruleus.
50
What is norepinephrine's function in the PNS?
Fight or flight response, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and release of glucose for energy.
51
What is norepinephrine's function in the CNS?
Attention, emotions, sleeping, dreaming, and learning.
52
Noradrenergic pathways project from what brain area?
Locus coeruleus.
53
What other brain areas are involved in the noradrenergic pathway? What is norepinephrine's function in each area?
Prefrontal cortex: modulates neuronal firing rate to regulate cognitive function and maintains working memory. Limbic areas: modulates neuronal firing rate to regulate affective function. Cerebellum: modulates cerebellar neurons to regulate learning and memory.
54
What are 3 monoamines?
Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine.
55
Dysfunction in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine is related to what?
Psychological disorders.
56
What are the higher/lower levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine marked by when in dysfunction?
§ Lower levels of serotonin: □ Low mood/irritability. □ Anxiety. □ Insomnia. □ Suicidal ideation. § Higher levels of serotonin: □ Serotonin syndrome. □ Seizures. □ Muscle rigidity. □ (PNS; weird intense flu). § Lower levels of dopamine: □ Mood swings. □ Poor concentration. □ Anhedonia. □ Sensation seeking. § Higher levels of dopamine: □ Mania. □ Aggression. □ Impulsivity. § Lower levels of norepinephrine: □ Poor memory/attention. □ Fatigue. □ Low mood. □ Anhedonia. § Higher levels of norepinephrine: □ Anxiety. □ Irritability. □ Insomnia.
57
Is neurochemistry sufficient to explain psychological constructs? Why/why not?
No, it doesn't neatly match and doesn't fully account for all presentations.
58
How does the categorical approach and continuum approach differ?
Categorical is arbitrary and doesn't account for heterogeneity, continuum accounts for severity.
59
For depression, what is the pharmacological treatment aim?
Increase serotonin levels.
60
For anxiety, what is the pharmacological treatment aim?
Increase serotonin levels.
61
For OCD, what is the pharmacological treatment aim?
Increase serotonin levels.
62
For schizophrenia, what is the pharmacological treatment aim?
Decrease dopamine function.
63
For ADHD, what is the pharmacological treatment aim?
Increase dopamine and norepinephrine function.
64
Side effects are the manifestation of what flow-on effect on the PNS?
Affecting the monomingeric (monamine) system.
65
What are the target areas and function of the hormones from flow-on effects on the PNS (side effects)?
○ Prolactin: § Target area = Mammary glands. § Function = Parturition / contractions / stress. ○ ACTH: § Target area = Adrenal glands. § Function = Cortisol production. ○ Oxytocin: § Target area = Brain / mammary glands / uterus. § Function = Social attachments / contractions. ○ Melatonin: § Target area = Brain. § Function = Regulates sleep. ○ Adrenaline: § Target area = Smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscle. § Function = Initiates stress response. ○ Cortisol: § Target area = All over body. § Function = Long-term stress response. ○ Leptin: § Target area = Hypothalamus / brain stem. § Function = Satiety / adipogensis. ○ Ghrelin: § Target area = Brain. § Function = Hunger / adipogensis. ○ Oestrogen: § Target area = Female productive organs. § Function = Menstrual cycles. ○ Testosterone: § Target area = Male reproductive organs. § Function = Sperm production.

PSYC359 (18 decks)

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