Week 5 Flashcards
(28 cards)
Neural Pathways
- The highest level of complexity in neural communication
- Sequences of neurons communicating through several brain regions
Acetylcholine
- Found in CNS and PNS
- Responsible for motor control at the junction between nerve and muscle
-Also involved in mental processing i.e. learning, dreaming sleeping - Function is dependent on location i.e. brain- learning and muscle- movement
Epinephrine/ Adrenaline
- Responsible for bursts of energy after an exciting/ threatening event i.e. fight or flight
Norepinephrine
- States of arousal, vigilance and attention
- Both a neurotransmitter and a hormone
Neurotransmitter
- Limited to the synapse
Hormone
- Can travel in the bloodstream so can impact the wider nervous system
Serotonin
- Wide range of psychological activity i.e. impulse control, emotional states, daydreaming
- Both excitatory ad Inhibitory depending on part of body
- Important for some physical processes i.e. vomiting
- 90% produced in gastrointestinal tract
Dopamine
- Involved in learning, motivation, reward and motor control over voluntary movement
- Stimulated by reward and thus is increased by consuming addictive drugs
Neuromodulators
- Naturally secreted substances that act like neurotransmitters but are not restricted to the synaptic cleft
- Diffuse through extracellular fluid and through large areas of nervous system to affect multiple neurons
Endorphins-
- Neuromodulator
- Released when people or animals are mating, fighting or exercising
- Naturally secreted substances that activate opiate receptors and thus offers natural pain relief
Malfunction of ACh
- With Alzheimer’s disease, ACh producing neurons deteriorate
Malfunction of Dopamine
- Excess associated with the positive effects of schizophrenia i.e. delusions and hallucinations
- Starvation of dopamine produces tremors and reduced mobility of Parkinson’s
Malfunction of Serotonin
Undersupply linked with depression
Problems associated with Norepinephrine
Undersupply can depress mood
Problems associated with GABA
Undersupply linked with seizures, insomnia and tremors
Problems associated with Glutamate
Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures
Agonists
- Enhance a neurotransmitters effects
- Structurally similar to natural occurrence of neurotransmitter
- Work by: Increasing amount of neurotransmitter made or released
. Blocking reuptake of neurotransmitter
. Mimicking neurotransmitter action, either activating receptor or increasing effect
Prozac
-Serotonin agonist
- Blocks reuptake at channel protein so more serotonin is available
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat clinical depression
Cocaine
- Dopamine Agonist
- Inhibits transporters for dopamine and thus blocks its reuptake in presynaptic terminal and prolongs its effects
- Leads to increased arousal in entire nervous system
Cocoethylene
-Byproduct of concurrent consumption of alcohol and cocaine; 10x more cardiotoxic than cocaine
- Blocks reuptake of dopamine and increases post synaptic neuronal activity
Acetylcholinesterase
An enzyme that deactivates ACh within the synapse
Neostigmine
- ACh agonist
- Used to medically treat Myasthenia Gravis
- An ACHE inhibitor, so makes more ACh available at the synaptic gap
- Those given neostigmine will regain some strength
Antagonist
- Impede a neurotransmitters effects
- Work by; Decreasing release of neurotransmitters
. Destroying neurotransmitter in synapse
. Mimicking neurotransmitter by binding to receptor and blocking the neurotransmitter from binding (acting as a receptor blocker)
Botulinum Toxin
- An ACh antagonist
- A bacterium that grows in improperly canned food
- Prevents the release of ACh in vesicles
- Symptoms include double vision, loss of co-ordination, paralysis and eventual death
- Has medicinal applications to reduce tremors
- Has cometic applications i.e. reduce wrinkles
