BIOLOGICAL the central nervous system Flashcards
what is a neurotransmitter
chemical messengers responsible for transmission of electrical impulses through the synapse
what are the five neurtransmitters we look at
dopamine, serotonin, gaba, noradrenaline, acetylcholine
what type of neurotramnsitter is dopamine and what is it linked to
- linked to addiction (D2 receptors), schozphrenia, depression
- exitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter
what type of neurotransmitter is serotonin and what is it linked to
- inhibitory neurotransmitter
- linked to depression and anxiety
what is the function of serotonin
carb cravings, emotion, mood, regulates sleep cycle
what type of neurotransmitter is gaba and what is it linked to
- inhibitory neurotransmitter
- linked to alcohol and heroin
what is the function of gaba
blocks messages, calms the nerves that are firing in order to relax the body
what type of neurotransmitter is noradrenaline and what is it linked to
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- linked to depression, stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, hyperactivity
what is the function of noradrenaline
fight or flight response in aggression
what type of neurotransmitter is acetylcholine and what is it linked to
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- linked to nicotine
what is the function of acetylcholine
muscle stimulation - low levels of ACh linked to problems with learning and memory
explain the process of synaptic transmission
- an action potential arrives at the pre-synaptic neuron
- causes the vesicle to fuse with the membrane of the pre-synaptic neuron
- neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft
- neurotransmitter diffuses across synaptic cleft
- neurotransmitter binds to specific receptors on the post-ynaptic neuron
- this triggers an action potential in teh post-synaptic neuron
- neurotransmitters return to the vesicle via reuptake
what is the difference between the excitatory and the inhibitory neurotransmitters
excitatory = increases the likelyhood that neurons will fire an action potential
inhibitory = decreases
what are neurons responsible for
recieving sensory input, sending motor commands to muscles and transforming and relayinf electrical signals