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Biological Foundations of Psychology > (4) Neurotransmitters, synapses, neuronal communication and hormones > Flashcards

(4) Neurotransmitters, synapses, neuronal communication and hormones Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a neuron?

A

Information processing device, transfers information

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2
Q

What type of signals flow via a neuron (within)

A

Information flows within a neuron via electrical signals, through action potential

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3
Q

How does information flow between neurons?

A

Information flows between neurons via chemical signals

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4
Q

Where do neurons communicate?

A

Synapses

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5
Q

What is a synapse?

A

The gap between neurons where signals are passed from one to another, from pre to post synaptic neuron

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6
Q

What are the two types of synapses?

A

-Electrical and chemical synapses

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7
Q

How big is the gap between neurons? (electrical)

A

Very small gap between two neurones (2-4 nm)

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8
Q

What type of channels do facing membranes have? (electrical)

A

The facing membranes have large channels that allow ions to move directly from one cell to the other

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9
Q

What is transmission similar to? (electrical)

A

Transmission from one neuron to the next is similar to action potential conduction along the axon

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10
Q

How fast is transmission at electrical synapses?

A

Very fast – no time delay

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11
Q

What is Near-Instantaneous Transmission ?

A

Giving a current injection into the pre synapse to see how fast the post synapse responds, Artificial action potential

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12
Q

What did Eric Kandel do?

A

Eric Kandel: experiments with Aplysia (sea slug) which led to the understanding of short and long term memory

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13
Q

What is a chemical synapse?

A

The gap between the axon of one neurone and the dendrite of the next one

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14
Q

How big is the gap between neurons in chemical synapses?

A

Small gap but much larger than gap junctions (20-40 nm)

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15
Q

How many synapses does a neuron have? (chemical)

A

Each neurone has many (typically ca 1000) synapses

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16
Q

What are neurons separated by? (chemical)

A

Neurons are separated by small gap –the synaptic cleft

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17
Q

Are chemical synapses slower or faster than electrical?

A

slower

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18
Q

What are receptors?

A

Receptors are membrane proteins that bind neurotransmitters

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19
Q

(post synaptic receptors) Receptors can only bind to specific ________________?

A

Each receptor type can bind only a specific neurotransmitter – lock-and-key principle: when a transmitter molecule binds to the receptor, the receptor changes shape, causing an ion channel to open

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20
Q

What are ionotropic receptors?

A

These control the ion channel directly, when bound to the transmitter the ion channel opens and ions flow across the membrane,

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21
Q

What are ionotropic receptors also known as?

A

also known as ligand-gated ion channels (FAST)

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22
Q

What are Metabotropic receptors?

A

These also bind with the neurotransmitter but do not open the ion channel, they activate G-Proteins that subsequently control the ion channel (SLOW), needs another messenger to open the channel

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23
Q

What happens if net charge in EPSP and IPSP is below threshold when it reaches the axon hillock?

A

If net charge (sum of EPSPs+IPSPs) is below threshold (

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24
Q

What happens if net charge in EPSP and IPSP is at threshold when it reaches the axon hillock?

A

If net charge (sum of EPSPs+IPSPs) is at threshold (-40 mV):AP is elicited

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25
Q

What is the net charge in EPSP and IPSP threshold when it reaches the axon hillock?

A

-40mV

26
Q

What happens when an action potential is elicited?

A

The AP travels along the axon to the axon terminal The AP causes release of neurotransmitter, passing the signal to the next postsynaptic neuron, etc.

27
Q

What is a neurotransmitter?

A

A chemical released by one neuron that affects another neuron or an effector organ

28
Q

Neurotransmitters can be _____ or _____

A

Neurotransmitters can be excitatory or inhibitory (can be both)

29
Q

How many neurotransmitters does a neuron typically synthesize and release?

A

Each neurone typically synthesizes and releases one neurotransmitter

30
Q

Examples of excitory neurotransmitters?

A

Acetylcholine, Aspartate, Dopamine, Histamine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Glutamate and Serotonin

31
Q

Examples of inhibitory neurotransmitters?

A

GABA and Glycine

32
Q

What is hormonal communication?

A

secretes chemicals into the blood stream to affect the entire body, not just brain

33
Q

What are Interconnected neurons of the ANS

A

simultaneously controls responses in many internal organs, chain of neuron

34
Q

what are Diffuse modulatory systems

A

specific neurotransmitter, regulate arousal, mood, motivation, sexual behaviour, emotion, sleep, etc

35
Q

Modulatory system affect wide areas to make them…

A

more or less excitable or more or less synchronously active etc.

36
Q

The brains modulatory systems use mechanisms requiring….

A

The brain uses many of these mechanisms each requiring a specific neurotransmitter

37
Q

What does the diffuse modulatory systems control?

A

Important in motor control, memory, mood, motivation, and metabolic state, heavily involved in many psychiatric disorders.

38
Q

How many neurons can a neuron connect to?

A

Each neuron has tremendous affect because it can connect to as many as 100,000 neurons

39
Q

Where are neurotransmitters released?

A

Neurotransmitters are released into the extracellular fluid and can diffuse to many neurons

40
Q

Where do neurons in the diffuse system arise from?

A

Neurons of the diffuse system arise from a central core, in the brainstem

41
Q

what is the Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus involved in?

A

involved in regulation of attention, arousal, sleep wake cycles, learning and memory, anxiety, pain, mood and brain metabolism

42
Q

What activates the Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus?

A

Activated by new, unexpected, non-painful sensory stimuli, general arousal to interesting events in the outside world

43
Q

Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus increases…

A

Increase brain responsiveness, speeding information processing

44
Q

The Serotonergic Raphe Nuclei fires most…

A

Fire most during wakefulness

45
Q

The Serotonergic Raphe Nuclei is involved in…

A

Involved in sleep wake cycles and stages of sleep, control of mood and emotional behaviours

46
Q

The Serotonergic Raphe Nuclei is part of what activating system?

A

Part of reticular activating system

47
Q

In the Dopaminergic Substantia Nigra, neurons project from…

A

Neurons project from Substantia Nigra to striatum

48
Q

Dopaminergic Substantia Nigra is involved in…

A

Control voluntary movements, degeneration results in Parkinson’s disease

49
Q

What is the Colinergic Basal Forebrain involved in?

A

Implicated in arousal, sleep wake cycles, learning and memory

50
Q

What is the general function of the Colinergic Basal Forebrain?

A

General function not completely understood, first cells to die in the course of Alzheimer’s disease

51
Q

How do psychoactive drugs work?

A

Many psychoactive drugs work by binding to specific receptors in the brain

52
Q

Why might depression be caused?

A

Some types of depression may be due to lack of serotonin

53
Q

How do SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work?

A

e.g., Prozac – work by increasing the amount of serotonin that can bind to postsynaptic receptors

54
Q

Drugs either ____ or ____ activity at the synapse

A

facilitate or inhibit activity at the synapse

55
Q

What are Antagonistic drugs?

A

drugs block the effects of neurotransmitters (novacaine, caffeine)

56
Q

What are Agonist drugs?

A

drugs mimic or increase the effects of neurotransmitters (receptors in the brain respond to heroin, LSD and cocaine)

57
Q

Almost all abused drugs stimulate…

A

dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens

58
Q

What are Stimulant drugs?

A

increase excitement, alertness, motor activity and elevate mood amphetamines, cocaine, MDMA (Ecstasy), nicotine Stimulant drugs directly stimulate dopamine receptor

59
Q

What are Opiate drugs?

A

derived from the opium poppy (or similar) Opiates decrease sensitivity to pain and increase relaxation morphine, heroin, methadone

60
Q

What does alcohol alter?

A

It alters membranes, ion channels, enzymes, and receptors

61
Q

Alcohol binds directly to receptors for…

A

Acetylcholine, Serotonin, GABA and Glutamate

Biological Foundations of Psychology (11 decks)

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