9.17 Notes

Question 1

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

Answer 1

A message coming into the receiving cell, telling you to rest

Question 2

What happens at the end of the neuron that allows it to fire?

Answer 2

Calcium ions (Ca++) goes into the cell

Question 3

Vesicles

Answer 3

Contains neurotransmitters; floats towards the edge of the neuron and binds, and releases the neurotransmitters into the synapse

Question 4

Two ways to get rid of neurotransmitters in the synapse

Answer 4

Reuptake and enzymatic degradation

Question 5

Reuptake

Answer 5

A molecule picks up the neurotransmitters and brings them back to the presynaptic neuron to be recycled; some drugs can stop this process, such as SSRIs

Question 6

Enzymatic degradation

Answer 6

Enzymes attack the neurotransmitter, breaks it into pieces and sends it to the blood; MAOs

Question 7

Monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Answer 7

Destroys norepinephrine by enzymatic degradation

Question 8

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Answer 8

Destroys the MAO molecule; used to treat depression; not used often anymore due to a possible side effect of death, known as a cheese reaction-a long list of foods they cannot eat; can increase blood pressure and cause strokes

Question 9

Coexistence

Answer 9

Neurons can have multiple types of neurotransmitters in a vesicle, but they always have the same number

Question 10

Receptors

Answer 10

A type of neuron that receives information from the external environment; also the proteins on a postsynaptic neuron that receives only certain types of neurotransmitters

Question 11

Types of synapses

Answer 11

Axo-dendritic; axo-somatic; axo-axonic; dendri-dendritic

Question 12

Neurotransmitters

Answer 12

Chemicals that neurons use to communicate

Question 13

The six criteria for neurotransmitters

Answer 13

Chemical must be produced in a neuron; chemical has to be found within a neuron; when a neuron is depolarized, the chemical must come out; when the chemical is released, it must act on the receptor and cause a biological change; after a chemical is released, it must be deactivated by either reuptake or enzymatic degradation; if you take the chemical and put it on a postsynaptic neuron, it should cause the same effect as if it came directly from the presynaptic neuron

Question 14

Acetylcholine (Ach)

Answer 14

Involved in memory, learning, dreaming, concentration, motor movement (neuromuscular junction- neuron synapses with a muscle); two types of receptors-nicotinic and muscarinic (motor movements)

Question 15

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP)

Answer 15

A message coming into the receiving cell, telling it to fire

Question 16

Dopamine (Da)

Answer 16

Involved in depression, addiction, hallucinations, positive symptoms of schizophrenia (Too much dopamine), reward pathways, movement (Parkinson’s disease-death of dopamine-producing inhibitory neurons); Wellbutrin-affect dopamine to treat depression and smoking cessation, but a side effect is psychosis

Question 17

Norepinephrine (NE)/epinephrine (E)

Answer 17

Involved in attention, focus, awareness, alertness, startle response, and depression

Question 18

Serotonin (5-HT)

Answer 18

Involved in depression, OCD, SAD; violently suicidal people and arsonists have high levels of serotonin

Question 19

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Answer 19

Involved in anxiety; affected by Xanax, alcohol, heroin, Valium, and benzodiazepines

Question 20

Glutamate

Answer 20

Most common neurotransmitter in the brain; primarily excitatory

Question 21

Nitric oxide

Answer 21

Dilates blood vessels