Lecture 6

Question 1

brain and spinal cord purpose

Answer 1

analyze and interpret signals from peripheral nervous system
-generate thought, language, attention, consciousness, behaviour and memory

Question 2

CNS

Answer 2

central nervous system - brain and spinal cord
-millions of neurons communiate through releasing neurotransmitters in synapses

Question 3

Neurons

Answer 3

building blocks of the CNS (type of cells)

Question 4

action potential

Answer 4

-resting potential -70mV
-depolarize membrane potential to threshold (-55 mV)
-sodium channels open, Na floods into cellfor rapid depolarization
-repolarization (Na channels close, K channels open to release potassium out of cell)
-refractory period as cell goes back to resting potential (Na channels cannot reopen during this)

Question 5

Exictatory neurotransmitters (4)

Answer 5

glutamate
acetylcholine
epinephrine
norepinephrine

Question 6

Inhibitory neurotransmitters (2)

Answer 6

GABA
glycine

Question 7

drugs and the CNS

Answer 7

drugs alter neurotransmission
-can affect production, storage or release of neurotransmitters (pre-synapse)
-affect neurotransmitters metabolims
-inhibit or activate post-synaptic receptors

Question 8

Stimulants definition

Answer 8

psychoactive drugs induce temporary improvement in mental or physical functions

Question 9

caffeine

Answer 9

stiumulant
-relaxes smooth muscle, situmulates gastric acid secretion and increases heart contractibility
-increases alertness
-anxiety, tremours, arrhythmia
-tolerance and withdrawal

Question 10

Prescription stimulants

Answer 10

treat ADHD (abmormal release of dopamine and norepinephrine ) or narcolepsy

Question 11

Methylphenidate(Concerta, Ritalin)

Answer 11

blocks dopamine uptake transporter, increasing dopamine concentrations

Question 12

side effects of stimulants

Answer 12

increased heart rate, dizziness, chest pain, fever, nervousness, cramps,
-highly addictive

Question 13

three types of antidepressants

Answer 13

-SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)
-SSNRI (selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors )
-TCA (tricyclic)

Question 14

Methamphetamine

Answer 14

illicit stimulant
-inhibits reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and sertonin
-increases release of dopamine
-increase mood, energy, sex drive
-highly addictive
-neurotoxic
-body stops producing dopamine naturally, dopamine receptors stop being produced
-cycle of drug dependence

Question 15

CNS depressants uses

Answer 15

pain, anxiety, muscle relaxants

Question 16

Anesthesia

Answer 16

reversible state of CNS depression, use a concoction of drugs to produce effect
-can be used in general (whole body, loss of consciousness) or local (specific nerve pathways)

Question 17

Benzodiazepines

Answer 17

target GABA receptor, causes hyperpolarization
-decresed action potentials and neurotransmission
-used for anxiety, sedation, anticonvulsant, seizures, muscle relazant, sleep disorders
-drowsiness, confusion-
-potential for dependence and lethal overdose with alcohol

Question 18

Analgesics

Answer 18

pain management depressant
-pain is a complex and unpredictable neurochemical response and is subjective and therefore hard to measure
-nerve pain: anticonvulsants, antidepressants
-inflammation: NSAIDS
-chronic/severe pain: opiods (work on opioid receptor in CNS and intestinal tract)

Question 19

opioid effects

Answer 19

-analgesia
-depresses cough reflex
-miosis (pinpoint pupils)
-euphoria
-constipation
-repiratory depression (decrease sensitivity of CO2 receptors)
-addictive - may disinhibit dopamine pathways in brain

Question 20

Heroin

Answer 20

illicit depressant, turns into morphine in body

Question 21

Alcohol

Answer 21

depressant, targets GABA receptors in bain
-stimulates serotonin release
-metabolized in liver
-eliminated by kidneys and lungs
-diuretic
-teratogen (causes birth defects)
-causes numerous issues when taken with drugs (nausea, vomiting, internal bleeding, heart and breathin problems)
-can make mediation less effective, or exaggerate effects

Question 22

Neurodegenerative diseases

Answer 22

progressive loss of neurons in selected brain regions
-effects movement, cognition or both
-incurable, debilitating

Question 23

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 23

common neurodegenerative disease
-loss of cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Maynert (group of neurons in forebrain, rich in acetycholine and cholinergic neurons, modulate visual perception, mental capacity and learning)
-treated with acetylholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA-receptor antagonists

Question 24

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Answer 24

inhibit AchE, improves cholinergic function by dereasing Ach breakdown in functioning neurons
-modest reduction in rate of loss of cognitive function in Alzheimer’s

Question 25

NMDA receptor antagaonist

Answer 25

-glutamate overstimulation toxic to neurons, triggers apoptosis
-neurprotection, reduce rate of memory loss