Biopsychology- Synaptic transmission

Question 1

what is synaptic transmission?

Answer 1

the process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse that separates them.

Question 2

describe what happens during synaptic transmission:

Answer 2

-The action potential reaches the axon terminal of the post synaptic neuron
– The casing of the vesicle then fuses with the pre-synaptic membrane. they move downwards towards the synaptic gap.
-neurotransmitters release from vesicles to into gap. Moves from high to low concentration- diffusion
- move from the pre to the post-synaptic membrane. To receptor sites
-Excitatory- excites/generates an impulse- more likely to fire messages/electrical impulses
- Inhibitory- inhibits an impulse- less likely to fire messages/electrical impulses

Question 3

explain what happens across a synapse:

Answer 3

the presynaptic neuron has a synaptic knob. contains synaptic vesicles filed with neurotransmitters. when an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neuron it causes neurotransmitters to be released into the synaptic cleft. diffuse across to the postsynaptic membrane and bind to specific receptors. because receptors are only on the postsynaptic membranes, synapses make sure impulses are unidirectional. neurotransmitters are removed from cleft so response doesn’t keep happening. take up by reuptake