Biological Approach: Neurotransmission

Question 1

What are neurons?

Answer 1

• neurons are one of the building blocks of behavior
• neurons send electrochemical messages to the brain so that people can respond to stimuli—either from the environment or from internal changes in the body

Question 2

Define neurotransmission

Answer 2

• neurotransmitters are the body’s natural chemical messengers that transmit information from one neuron to another
• the electrical impulse that travels along the body of the neuron is called an action potential
• when an action potential travels down the body, or axon, of the neuron, it releases neurotransmitters that are stored in the neuron’s terminal buttons
• neurotransmitters are then released into the gap between the neurons – called the synapse
• after crossing the synapse, the neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on the post-synaptic membrane, like a key in a lock
• once the message is passed on, the neurotransmitters are either broken down by an enzyme or reabsorbed by the terminal buttons, in a process called reuptake

Question 3

What is an fMRI?

Answer 3

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging
• detects changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity

Question 4

What is an MRI?

Answer 4

• Magnetic resonance imaging
• a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body

Question 5

What are the different types of neurotransmitters?

Answer 5

• Excitatory neurotransmitters
• Inhibitory neurotransmitters
• Metabotropic neurotransmitters

Question 6

What are excitatory neurotransmitters?

Answer 6

• they increase the likelihood of a neuron firing by depolarizing the neuron
• ie. acetylcholine

Question 7

What are inhibitory neurotransmitters?

Answer 7

• they decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing by hyperpolarizing the neuron
• ie. scopolamine

Question 8

What are metabotropic neurotransmitters?

Answer 8

• they only indirectly affect the neuron and are considered neither excitatory nor inhibitory
• ie. serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine

Question 9

Antonova et al (2011) can be used for…

Answer 9

• the role of neurotransmitters in behavior

Question 10

Antonova et al (2011) - aim

Answer 10

• to see if scopolamine affects hippocampal activity in the creation of spatial memory

Question 11

Antonova et al (2011) - procedure

Answer 11

• sample of healthy young male adults
• double-blind procedure and participants were randomly allocated to one of two conditions
• they were injected with either scopolamine or a placebo before taking part in the experimental task
• participants were then put into an fMRI where they were scanned while playing the “Arena task” - a complex VR game in which the researchers are observing how well the participants are able to create spatial memories
• participants were first trained in the game to make sure that they were comfortable with the use of the joystick and that they understood the rules of the game
• participants returned between 3 - 4 weeks later and redid the test - receiving the opposite treatment to the original study
• repeated measures design

Question 12

Antonova et al (2011) - findings

Answer 12

• researchers found that when participants were injected with scopolamine, they demonstrated a significant reduction in the activation of the hippocampus compared to when they received a placebo

Question 13

Antonova et al (2011) - conclusion

Answer 13

• It appears that acetylcholine could play a key role in the encoding of spatial memories in humans, as well as in rats