Biopsychology: Synaptic Transmission Flashcards
Give three reasons why neurons can only transmit in one direction at a synapse
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
Name box 1 and 2
1) Vesicle
2) Receptor site
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemical messengers in the brain
What is sent down the axon to the presynaptic terminal?
Action potential/impulse
Where are neurotransmitters stored?
Vesicles
What do vesicles store?
Neurotransmitters
What do the neurotransmitters bind to on the post-synaptic neuron?
Receptor sites
What happens at the receptor sites?
Neurotransmitters bind
What do neurotransmitters diffuse across?
Synapse, synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
Name an excitatory neurotransmitter
Adrenaline
If the neurotransmitter is excitatory, how is the post synaptic cell charged?
Positively charged
Name an inhibitory neurotransmitter
Serotonin
If the neurotransmitter is inhibitory, how is the post synaptic cell charged?
Negatively charged
An excitatory neurotransmitter makes the post synaptic neuron …
More likely to fire an impulse down the axon
An inhibitory neurotransmitter makes the post synaptic neuron …
less likely to fire an impulse down the axon.
What impact does an inhibitory neurotransmitter have on brain and Central Nervous System activity?
Decreases activity
What impact does an excitatory neurotransmitter have on brain and Central Nervous System activity?
increases activity
When does summation occur?
when the excitatory and inhibitory influences are added together
In terms of summation what happens when the effect is mainly inhibitory?
It reduces the likelihood that the neuron will fire an impulse down the post synaptic neuron?
What impact is there in the post-synaptic neuron if the overall effect of summation is excitatory?
It increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire an impulse down the post synaptic neuron.
