5.3 + 5.4 Flashcards
What is the role of neurotransmitters?
To transmit a signal from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse
What are the possible fates of neurotransmitters following binding?
- Destroyed by enzymes
- Reabsorbed by presynaptic terminal
- Recycled by glial cells (e.g. astrocytes)
Ionotropic vs metabotropic neurotransmitter
Ionotropic: bind to ligand-gated receptors and allow ions into a neuron
Metabotropic: G-protein coupled receptors, cause signalling cascades within a cell that causes downstream responses
List the two types of amino acid neurotransmitters. What are neurons called that use them?
- GABA (-) and Glutamate (+)
- Neurons are called amino acidergic
List the three classes of classical amine neurotransmitters
- Catecholamines
- Serotonin
- Acetycholine
What are neurons called that use serotonin?
Serotonergic
What are neurons called that use ACh?
Cholinergic
List the three types of catecholamine neurotransmitters
- Dopamine
- Adrenaline
- Noradrenaline
Describe spatial summation of EPSPs
When enough synapses deliver EPSPs close enough together to trigger an action potential
Describe temporal summation of EPSPs
When the post-synaptic membrane recieves enough EPSPs in rapid succession to trigger an AP
Visualise the location of the crus cerebri. What else can these be called, and what is their function?
- Ventral to thalamus
- Also called cerebral peduncles
- Connects cortex and pons to cerebellum
- Connects cortex to spinal cord
What is the function of the thalamus?
Relay station for sensory and motor information
What structures are within the tegmentum of the midbrain? What do they do?
- Substantia nigra (dopamine production)
- Periaqueductal grey (pain suppression)
What structures are in the tectum of the midbrain? What do they do?
- Sup/inf colliculi
- Superior: visual
- Inferior: auditory
What is the basal ganglia involved in?
Motor planning and movement
