Biopsychology: Synaptic Transmission COPY 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.