2c. Neurotransmission

Question 1

Neurotransmission

Answer 1

Electrochemical process through which electrical impulses are transferred from pre-synaptic to post-synaptic neurons with the help of neurotransmitters

Question 2

What are the 3 things that can happen when a neurotransmitter is released?

Answer 2

1. It fits into receptor of post-synaptic neuron and generates nerve impulse
2. Left in synapse and broken down by an enzyme
3. Reabsorbed by pre-synaptic neuron through re-uptake

Question 3

Neurotransmitters

Answer 3

Natural chemical messengers that transmit information from one neuron to another

Question 4

Examples of major neurotransmitters

Answer 4

Serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine

Question 5

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 5

They increase the likelihood of an action potential being fired by depolarizing the neuron

Question 6

Example of excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 6

Acetylcholine

Question 7

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 7

Decreases likelihood of action potential being fired by hyperpolarizing the neuron

Question 8

Example of inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 8

GABA

Question 9

Agonists

Answer 9

Chemical that binds to receptor sites on post-synaptic neurons causing it to fire

Question 10

Examples of agonists

Answer 10

All neurotransmitters are agonists for their own receptors so acetylcholine, serotonin etc.

Question 11

Endogenous agonists

Answer 11

The brain’s natural chemicals. Inside the body

Question 12

Example of endogenous agonists

Answer 12

Neurotransmitters

Question 13

Exogenous agonists

Answer 13

Chemicals from the external environment, not produced by the body

Question 14

Examples of exogenous agonists

Answer 14

• Drugs

- Alcohol binds with dopamine receptor sites

Question 15

Antagonists

Answer 15

Drugs that block receptor site and do not allow neurotransmitter to do its job i.e. no action potential

Question 16

Antagonist for acetylcholine

Answer 16

Scopolamine

Question 17

Antanova: Aim

Answer 17

To see whether scopolamine affected hippocampal activity during creation of spatial memory

Question 18

Antanova: Research method + design

Answer 18

• Lab experiment
• Repeated measures
• Double blind study

Question 19

Antanova: Participants

Answer 19

• 20 healthy male adults were randomly assigned to two conditions

Question 20

Antanova: Conditions

Answer 20

One group received a scopolamine injection while the other received a placebo

Question 21

Antanova: Procedure

Answer 21

• After injection, they were told to wait for an hour- 1.5 hours
• They were given a task of plating a difficult VR game
• Game involved finding a pole and then find it again from starting point (spatial memory)
• Performed task inside an fMRI and brain activity was measured 6 times
• Returned 3-4 weeks later and redid experiment with the other injection they didn’t receive

Question 22

Antanova: Results

Answer 22

• When compared to placebo, scopolamine showed no significant difference in time taken to complete the task or number of errors made
• Their fMRI did show a significant decrease in hippocampal activity

Question 23

Antanova: Evaluation

Answer 23

• May have experienced stress from injection or enclosed space
• Activity may not have been the best to measure, only saw a difference because of fMRI