Behavioral Neuroscience Ch.3 Flashcards
Active Zones
The areas of the presynaptic axon terminal where synaptic vesicles bind to the axon terminal’s membrane
Addiction
Drug abuse that is characterized by the presence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
Afferent Pathway
A pathway through which trains of action potentials course through sensory neurons in the direction of the spinal cord.
Agonists
Drugs that bind to receptors to mimic the effects of the neurotransmitter that normally binds to it.
Allosteric Modulation
When different chemicals can regulate the activity of a channel by each having their own receptor site on that same channel.
Anhedonia
The inability to feel pleasure.
Antagonists
Drugs that block the actions of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptors.
Axoaxonic Synapse
A synapse between two axons.
Axodendritic synapse
A synapse between an axon and a dendrite.
Axosomatic synapse
A synapse between an axon and a cell body.
Behavioral Tolerance
When a person has learned to compensate for the drug’s effects.
Brain reward areas
Brain areas that provide a sense of pleasure when stimulated.
cell-adaptation theory
The idea that functional tolerance occurs when neurons become progressively adjusted to the effects of a drug.
circuit of addiction
A circuit of brain areas associated with the stages of the cycle of addiction.
clostridium botulinum
A bacterium found in improperly conserved foods. It is better known as botulinum toxin.
connexins
Proteins that allow the passage of ions from one neuron to the other at electrical synapses.
cycle of addiction
A theory that views addiction as progressing through three stages.
dendrodendritic synapse
A synapse between two dendrites.
depressants
Drugs that slow activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
dispositional tolerance
When the body becomes progressively better at breaking down and eliminating the drug.
docking
The process by which synaptic vesicles align to the area from which they will release the neurotransmitters they contain.
drug
A chemical or mixture of chemicals that alters physiological function.
drug abuse
Using drugs in a way that causes physical and/or psychological harm to self or to others.
efferent pathway
A pathway through which trains of action potentials course through motor neurons in the direction of the periphery.
Endocytosis
The process by which molecules are taken up into a cell
Endogenous opioids
Opioids that are naturally present in the nervous system.
Euphoria
An enhanced sense of pleasure, excitement, and well-being.
excitatory neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter that binds to receptors that trigger the opening of Na+ channels, which results in the depolarization of the neuronal membrane.
Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
A postsynaptic potential that causes the voltage of the membrane to move toward the activation threshold.
Exocytosis
The process by which molecules are exported out of a cell.
Functional Tolerance
When neurons progressively become adjusted to the effects of a drug.
Gap Junctions
The points of connection between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons at electrical synapses.
G-protein
A protein that, when activated, travels on the inside of the neuron, where it can influence its function.
G-protein-coupled receptor
A type of receptor to which a G-protein is attached.
Hallucinogens
Drugs that alter perceptions to the point of creating hallucinations.
Incentive-salience theory
The theory in which two components of motivated behaviors, “wanting” and “liking,” are involved in the development of drug addiction and the stimulation of dopamine pathways is not responsible for the pleasurable effects of drugs.
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter that binds to receptors that trigger the opening of Cl– channels, which results in the hyperpolarization of the neuronal membrane.
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
A postsynaptic potential that causes the voltage of the neuronal membrane to move away from and below the activation threshold and even below the resting membrane potential.
Intracranial self-stimulation
A procedure in which animals are trained to press a lever to receive electrical stimulation through electrodes implanted in these areas.
Inverse agonists
Drugs that bind to a neurotransmitter receptor but exert opposite effects.
Ionotropic receptors
Receptors located on ion channels that directly affect the cell’s function.
Junctional folds
Deep indentations in the membranes of muscle cells that are rich in neurotransmitter receptors.
Ligand-binding assay
Adding a radioactive label to a molecule to trace its location in the tissue.
Liking
Linked to the pleasurable sensations experienced by users when they have taken a drug.
Membrane Differentiations
The combination of the active zones of the presynaptic axon terminals and postsynaptic densities of the postsynaptic dendrites.
Mesocortical pathway
The part of the mesocorticolimbic pathway that runs from the ventral-tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex.
Mesocorticolimbic pathway
The pathway through which dopaminergic neurons project from the ventral-tegmental area. It is subdivided into the mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways.
Mesolimbic pathway
The part of the mesocorticolimbic pathway that runs from the ventral-tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus.
Metabotropic receptors
Receptors located on proteins embedded in the neuronal membrane that do not form channels but indirectly affect the cell’s function.
Molecular coincidence detector
A receptor that regulates the activity of a channel by detecting two events that are occurring in temporal proximity.
Monosynaptic pathway
A pathway to a response that requires only one synapse.
Myasthenia gravis
An autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system destroys the receptors for acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.
Natural reinforcers
Activities or events that naturally provide pleasure, such as food, sex, or having a good time with friends.
Negative reinforcement
When a behavior removes an aversive or unwanted outcome, increasing the probability that it will be repeated.
Neuromuscular junction
The synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle cell.
Neurosecretory granules
Membranebound vesicles that contain large-molecule neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels
Channels that open in response to the binding of a neurotransmitter to receptors located on the channel.
Nigrostriatal pathway
The pathway through which dopaminergic neurons project from the substantia nigra to the striatum.
Opiates
Powerful painkillers that also provide feelings of intense feelings of pleasure, wellbeing, and calm.
Opioid
Any drug that interacts with opiate receptors.
Parkinson’s disease
A neurodegenerative brain disease in which dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra die, giving rise to the inability of affected individuals to smoothly control their movements.
Polysynaptic pathway
A pathway to a response that requires more than one synapse.
Positive reinforcement
When a behavior produces a pleasurable or desirable outcome, increasing the probability that the behavior that produced the outcome will be repeated.
Postsynaptic densities
Areas of the dendrite on which receptors are located.
Postsynaptic element
The areas that contains neurotransmitter receptors on the post-synaptic neuron.
Postsynaptic potential
The change in voltage of the neuronal membrane due to the entry of Na+ or Cl– into a neuron.
Presynaptic element
The axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron.
Psychoactive drugs
Drugs that can give rise to feelings of euphoria and altered perceptions.
Retrograde signaling
The process by which the activity of a neuron is regulated by a chemical messenger released by its postsynaptic target neuron.
Reuptake inhibitors
Drugs that inhibit the reuptake of a neurotransmitter by the neuron that released it.
Second messenger cascade
The process by which a G-protein activates an effector enzyme, which in turn can synthesize molecules known as second messengers.
Sedative hypnotics
Drugs that can relieve anxiety as well as having the potential to induce sleep.
Shortcut pathway
A pathway by which activated G-proteins can bind to ion channels from inside the cell.
Spatial summation
When several postsynaptic potentials that occur at the same time but at different synapses are added together.
Stimulants
Drugs that speed activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Summation
The processes of summing the input of neurons in the form of EPSPs or IPSPs, which may or may not result in the firing of action potentials.
Synaptic integration
The computational process that a neuron performs to determine whether it will be more or less likely to fire an action potential.
Synaptic vesicles
Membrane-bound vesicles that contain small-molecule neurotransmitters.
Temporal summation
When several postsynaptic potentials that follow each other with little delay are added together at the same synapse.
Tolerance
The phenomenon by which a person needs to take increasingly large amounts of a drug to experience the same effects.
Transporters
Proteins that transport neurotransmitters and other molecules across cellular membranes.
Tuberoinfundibular pathway
The pathway through which dopaminergic neurons project from the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
wanting
Strong cravings and drug-seeking behavior observed in the addicted person when exposed to environmental cues associated with taking the drug.
Withdrawal
Occurs with the cessation of the use of a drug once the nervous system has adjusted to the drug’s presence. Depending on the drug, withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, headaches, weakness, and body aches.
