Biological Psych Synpatic Transmission

Question 1

What are the 3 types of neurones and their functions?

Answer 1

• Sensory: connects skin receptors + picks up changes in temp/pressure, passes on electrical signal (message) to spinal chord where its picked up by relay neurone (in the Peripheral NS)
• Relay: in CNS
• Motor: connects w relay + sends signal to muscle (effector) (example of reflex action: hot obj) (in the Peripheral NS)

Question 2

How do neurones communicate?

Answer 2

1) Resting state of neurone = negatively charged
2) When activated by stimulus, it becomes v briefly positively charged (depolarisation)
3) Electrical impulse (action potential) generated + it travels down axon to next neurone (firing of neurone)

Question 3

Describe the process of synaptic transmission

Answer 3

1) In neurone cell body, electrical impulse triggered + travels down axon.
2) Impulse releases a NT at terminal branches. NT crosses synapse + reaches dendrites
3) If receptors are suitable for NT, it’s picked up by them (lock + key) + NT changes chemical balance at receptor, setting off electrical impulse as NT drops back into synapse.

Question 4

What are 2 effects that NTs can have on the post-synaptic neurone?

Answer 4

• excitatory: next neurone stimulated + made to fire (action potential)
• inhibitory response: neurone not fired

Question 5

What happens to the excess NT?

Answer 5

• broken down by enzymes in synapse / taken to reuptake channels (recycled)