Ap Psychology: Neurotransmitters

Question 1

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 1

Function: Enables muscle action, learning, and memory
Malfunction: Associated with Alzheimer’s disease or paralysis

Question 2

Dopamine

Answer 2

Function: Movement, thought process, reward
Malfunction: Oversupply linked to schizophrenia, undersupply linked to Parkinson’s disease

Question 3

Serotonin

Answer 3

Function: Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
Malfunction: Undersupply linked to depression and stress. Some drugs that raise serotonin levels are used to treat depression

Question 4

Norepinephrine

Answer 4

Function: Physical arousal, learning, and memory
Malfunction: Undersupply can depress mood

Question 5

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Answer 5

Function: A major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Malfunction: Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, anxiety disorders, and insomnia

Question 6

Glutamate

Answer 6

Function: A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
Malfunction: Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures

Question 7

Endorphins

Answer 7

“Morphine within”- natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Question 8

Epinephrine

Answer 8

Function: Plays a role in metabolism, attention, focus, panic, and excitement
Malfunction: linked to sleep disorders, anxiety, hypertension, and lowered immunity