Biopsych-: The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition

Question 1

What are neurotransmitters

Answer 1

Chemical messengers

Question 2

What is the role of neurotransmitters
(Good for essay intros)

Answer 2

Transmit information from one neuron to another so that a person performs an action, such as movement or has an emotional response.

Question 3

What type of signal is a neural impulse

Answer 3

Electrical signal

Question 4

What type of signal are neurotransmitters

Answer 4

Chemical signal

Question 5

What are neurotransmitters stored in

Answer 5

Vesicles

Question 6

What are found in the post synaptic membrane

Answer 6

Recepter sites

Question 7

What are found in the pre synaptic membrane

Answer 7

Vesicles containing neurotransmitters

Question 8

How many stages are there in synaptic transmission:

Answer 8

5:

1,2,3,4,5A OR 5B

Question 9

Describe stage one of synaptic transmission, or describe all and skip other cards

Answer 9

The process of synaptic transmission begins in the presynaptic neuron,

action potentials (electrical Nerve impulses) are sent down the axon until they reach the presynaptic terminal

Question 10

Describe the third stage of synaptic transmission, or describe all and skip other cards

Answer 10

These neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse (from high to low concentration) and then bind with their specific receptor site, that are only present on the postsynaptic neuron.

Question 10

Describe the second stage of synaptic transmission, or describe all and skip other cards

Answer 10

This causes the neurotransmitters (chemicals), which are stored in vesicles and are only located in the presynaptic neuron, to be released into the synaptic cleft (synaptic gap)

Question 11

Describe the fourth stage of synaptic transmission, or describe all and skip other cards

Answer 11

Once enough neurotransmitters have attached to the receptor sites on the post synaptic neuron, there are two possible outcomes:

Question 12

Describe the 5th stage of synaptic transmission (both options), or describe all and skip other cards

Answer 12

….”two possible outcomes”…

1:
The next neuron is ready to fire an impulse, depending on whether the neurotransmitter has a excitatory or inhibitory effect.

2:
The neurotransmitters are recycled to be stored back in the vehicles in the presynaptic neuron in a process called reuptake.

Question 13

Describe the process of synaptic transmission (full)

Answer 13

The process of synaptic transmission begins in the presynaptic neuron, action potentials (electrical nerve impulses) are sent down the axon until they reach the presynaptic terminal)

This causes the neurotransmitters (chemicals), which are stored in vesicles and are only located in the presynaptic neuron, to be released into the synaptic cleft (synaptic gap)

These neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse (from high to low concentration) and then bind with their specific receptor sites that are only present on the post synaptic neuron.

Once neurotransmitters have attached to the receptor sites on the post synaptic neuron, there are two possible outcomes. One being that the next neuron is ready to fire an impulse, depending on whether the neurotransmitter has an excitatory or inhibitory effect. The second being that the neurotransmitters are recycled to be stored back in the vesicles in the presynaptic neuron in a process called reuptake.

Question 14

Intro for Inhibitory and excitatory effects of neurotransmitters:

Answer 14

Neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) can have an effect on the next neuron. These effects could be either excitatory or inhibitory.

Question 15

Effects of drugs question intro

Answer 15

Drugs can be used to increase or decrease levels neurotransmitters and work by affecting (increasing or decreasing) the transmission of neurotransmitters across the synapse.

Question 16

Give an example of an excitatory neurotransmitters :

Answer 16

Adrenaline

Question 17

Give an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 17

Serotonin

Question 18

What does an exitotory neurotransmitter do to the next cells charge?

Answer 18

Makes post synaptic cell become positively charged

Question 19

What does an inhibitory neurotransmitter do to the next cells charge?

Answer 19

Makes post synaptic cell become negatively charged

Question 20

What is the overall effect of an exitotory neurotransmitter

Answer 20

Increases the brain activity in the central nervous system

Question 21

What is the overall effect of an inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 21

Decreases brain activity in the central nervous system

Question 22

When does summation occur

Answer 22

When excitatory and inhibitory influences are added together.

Question 23

Describe the process and effects of an exitatory neurotransmitter

Answer 23

When the excitatory neurotransmitter binds to the post synaptic receptors the post synaptic cell (next neuron) becomes positively charged.

This will make it more likely that the post synaptic cell will fire so an impulse will travel down its axon.

This increases the brain activity in the central nervous system.

Question 24

Describe the process and effects of an inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 24

When the inhibitory neurotransmitter binds to the post synaptic receptors, the post synaptic cell (next neuron) becomes negatively charged

This prevents or reduces the likelyhood that the post synaptic cell will fire

This decreases brain activity in the central nervous system

Question 25

Describe the process and effects of summation:

Answer 25

Summation occurs when the excitatory an inhibitory influences are added together

If the overall effect is mainly inhibitory/negatively charged it prevents or reduces the likelihood the neuron will fire an impulse down the post synaptic neuron

If it is mainly excitatory/positively charged the neuron will fire an impulse down the post synaptic neuron.

Question 26

What would happen if the overall effects of summatation are inhibitory

Answer 26

If inhibitory signal from one neuron is stronger than the excitatory signal, it means the next neuron will not fire (reduces likelihood)