Biopsychology: Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

Give three reasons why neurons can only transmit in one direction at a synapse

Answer 1

1) neurotransmitters are only in the presynaptic neuron
2) Receptor sites are only on the post synaptic neuron
3) Diffusion has to go from a high to low concentration

Question 2

Name box 1 and 2

Answer 2

1) Vesicle
2) Receptor site

Question 3

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 3

Chemical messengers in the brain

Question 4

What is sent down the axon to the presynaptic terminal?

Answer 4

Action potential/impulse

Question 5

Where are neurotransmitters stored?

Answer 5

Vesicles

Question 6

What do vesicles store?

Answer 6

Neurotransmitters

Question 7

What do the neurotransmitters bind to on the post-synaptic neuron?

Answer 7

Receptor sites

Question 8

What happens at the receptor sites?

Answer 8

Neurotransmitters bind

Question 9

What do neurotransmitters diffuse across?

Answer 9

Synapse, synaptic gap or synaptic cleft

Question 10

Name an excitatory neurotransmitter

Answer 10

Adrenaline

Question 11

If the neurotransmitter is excitatory, how is the post synaptic cell charged?

Answer 11

Positively charged

Question 12

Name an inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 12

Serotonin

Question 13

If the neurotransmitter is inhibitory, how is the post synaptic cell charged?

Answer 13

Negatively charged

Question 14

An excitatory neurotransmitter makes the post synaptic neuron …

Answer 14

More likely to fire an impulse down the axon

Question 15

An inhibitory neurotransmitter makes the post synaptic neuron …

Answer 15

less likely to fire an impulse down the axon.

Question 16

What impact does an inhibitory neurotransmitter have on brain and Central Nervous System activity?

Answer 16

Decreases activity

Question 17

What impact does an excitatory neurotransmitter have on brain and Central Nervous System activity?

Answer 17

increases activity

Question 18

When does summation occur?

Answer 18

when the excitatory and inhibitory influences are added together

Question 19

In terms of summation what happens when the effect is mainly inhibitory?

Answer 19

It reduces the likelihood that the neuron will fire an impulse down the post synaptic neuron?

Question 20

What impact is there in the post-synaptic neuron if the overall effect of summation is excitatory?

Answer 20

It increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire an impulse down the post synaptic neuron.