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Neurotransmitters Flashcards

1
Q

what neurotransmitters accomplish most communication in the brain?

A

glutamate (with excitatory effects)

GABA or glycine -spinal cord (with inhibitory effects

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2
Q

what do effects do all neurotransmitters other than glutamate and GABA have?

A

modulating effects

tend to activate or inhibit entire circuits of neurons that are involved in particular brain functions

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3
Q

psychopharmacology

A

the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behaviour

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4
Q

drug effects

A

the changes a drug produces in an animal’s physiological processes and behaviour

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5
Q

what do most drugs effect in the nervous system?

A

synaptic transmission

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6
Q

antagonist

A

a drug that opposed or inhibits the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

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7
Q

agonist

A

a drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

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8
Q

acetylcholine

A

the primary neurotransmitter secreted by the efferent axons of the CNS

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9
Q

what neurotransmitter is all muscular movement accomplished by?

A

acetylcholine

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10
Q

what is ACh involved in

A

regulating REM sleep- dreaming (doroslateral pons), perceptual learning (basal forebrain) and memory (hippocampus)

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11
Q

where is ACh found?

A

at the target of parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system

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12
Q

what are the general effect of ACh

A

facilitatory

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13
Q

ACh receptors

A

nicotinic and muscarinic

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14
Q

nicotinic receptor

A

an ionotropic acetylcholine receptor stimulated by nicotine

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15
Q

where are nicotinic receptors found?

A

post synaptic membrane of:

  • all autonomic ganglia
  • All neuromuscular junctions
  • some CNS pathways
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16
Q

what happens when a nicotinic receptor is bound

A

depolarisation, influx sodium and outflux potassium, excitation

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17
Q

muscarinic receptor

A

a metabotropic acetylcholine receptor

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18
Q

what type of receptor is a muscarinic receptor?

A

G protein coupled receptors

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19
Q

what effects does binding of a muscarinic receptor produce?

A

parasympathetic nerve effects in the heart, smooth muscles and glands

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20
Q

effects at muscarinic receptors (excitatory of inhibitory)

A

hyperpolarisation, K+ channels open = inhibition

depolarisation, K+ channels close = excitation

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21
Q

what are nicotinic receptors blocked by?

A

curare

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22
Q

what does curare do?

A

act as the junction between nerve cells and muscles causing paralysis

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23
Q

how does atropine act?

A

by preventing acetylcholine from depolarising the post-synaptic membrane in the parasympathetic branch

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24
Q

what is atropine a treatment for?

A

low heart rate

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25
botulinum toxin
acetylcholine antagonist, prevents release by terminal buttons
26
black widow spider venom
a poison produced by the black widow spider that triggers the release of acetylcholine causing convulsions (agonist)
27
the monoamines
dopamine norepinephrine epinephrine serotonin
28
why do some drugs effect the activity of all monoamines?
because the molecular structures of the substances is similar
29
natural awards
food, water, sex, nurturing
30
addiction
a state in which an organism engages in compulsive behaviour, behaviour is reinforcing, loss of control for intake
31
addiction
a state in which an organism engages in compulsive behaviour, behaviour is reinforcing, loss of control for intake
32
tolerance
a state in which an organism no longer responds to a drug, a higher does is needed to exert the same effect
33
dependence
a state in which an organism functions normally on the presence of a drug manifested as a physical disturbance when the drug is withdrawn
34
can you be dependent without being addicted?
yes, they are different circuits in the brain
35
cocaine
cocaine inhibits dopamine reuptake in the dopaminergic synapse in nucleus accumbens, leading to increased activity of the reward system
36
cocaine effect on metabolic activity
glucose reduction
37
nigrostratial system
starts in the substantia ganglia, terminates in the basal ganglia plays a role in the control of movement
38
parkinson's disease
neurological condition caused by degeneration of the nigrostratial system
39
what has parkinsons's disease been treated with?
L-DOPA
40
what is Parkinson's disease characterised by?
tremors rigidity of the limbs poor balance difficulty initiating movements
41
what is serotonin also called
5-HT
42
What does serotonin play a role in?
regulation of mood, behaviour, endocrine system and pain control of eating, sleep, dreaming, memory, learning, temp regulation, cardiovascular function, muscle contraction and arousal
43
LSD
stimulates centres of the sympathetic nervous system in the midbrain leading to: pupillary dilation, increase in body temperature, increase in blood sugar levels
44
MDMA
a drug that serves as a serotonergic agonist, has excitatory and hallucinogenic effects
45
effects of MDMA of serotonin transporters
prevent reuptake | work in reverse mode, bring more 5-HT into the synapse
46
acute effects of ecstasy
heightened perceptions reduced appetite elevated mood stimulation
47
adverse effects of ecstasy
``` depression-like feelings irritability clouded thinking hyperthermia disturbed behaviour jaw clenching ```
48
long term effects of serotonin
neurotoxicity- serotonin levels decreased from before after taking ecstasy impairments of verbal and visual memory
49
what is believed to be the cause of many cases of mild- severe depression? what symptoms can this lead to?
low serotonin levels | symptoms: anxiety, apathy, fear, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia and fatigue
50
antidepressants
medications that increase the amount of serotonin levels at the synapse by blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic cell
51
medications that inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine
can be effective in patients with depression
52
elevated levels of ..... found in patients experiencing mania
norepinephrine
53
norepinephrine
neurotransmitter and hormone as a hormone, secreted by the adrenal gland, it works along side epinephrine to give the body sudden energy in times of stress
54
most common neurotransmitters in the CNS
glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine
55
glutamate
an amino acid, most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
56
NMDA receptor
specialised ionotropic glutamate receptor
57
PCP (angel dust)
synthetic drug | indirect antagonist of NMDA receptors
58
imbalances in GABA neurotransmitter are linked to
bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorder
59
most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABA
60
most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord
glycine
61
GABA is a part of the brain system that allows us to:
fine tune our moods, thoughts and actions with an incredible level of detail
62
what does GABA provide?
necessary inhibitory effect that we need in order to block out excessive brain activity that in depression may lead to negative thinking
63
Benzodiazepine
tranquilizer a category of anxiolytic drugs: an indirect agonist for the GABA A receptor e.g. valium (diazepam)

brain and behaviour (12 decks)

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