Biopsychology - The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.

Question 1

Neurons communicate with each other in groups known as…

Answer 1

Neural networks

Question 2

What separates neurons?

Answer 2

Synapse

Question 3

What is the name of the gap between neurons?

Answer 3

Synaptic cleft

Question 4

How are signals transmitted WITHIN neurons?

Answer 4

Electrically

Question 5

How are signals transmitted BETWEEN neurons?

Answer 5

Chemically - synaptic transmission

Question 6

What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 6

How neighboroughing neurons communicate with each other via chemicals messages across the synaptic cleft (gap that separates them)

Question 7

What is the name of the end of the neuron?

Answer 7

Presynaptic terminal

Question 8

When an electrical impulse reaches the presynaptic terminal( end of the neuron) what is released?

Answer 8

Neurotransmitter

Question 9

Where are neurotransmitters released from?

Answer 9

Synaptic vesicles

Question 10

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 10

A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries information from one neuron to another.

Question 11

Neurotransmitters can be divided into two main functions. What are they?

Answer 11

1. Excitation

2. Inhibition

Question 12

Once a neurotransmitter crosses the gap it is taken up by what?

Answer 12

Postsynaptic receptor sites

Question 13

I increase positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron, increasing the likelihood that the neuron will fire & pass on an electrical impulse. What am I?

Answer 13

Excitation

Question 14

Inhibitory neurotransmitters are generally responsible for what effects on the body?

Answer 14

Calming the mind, inducing sleep, filtering out unnecessary excitatory signals.

Question 15

Does serotonin cause an excitatory or inhibitory effect?

Answer 15

Inhibitory

Question 16

I increase positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron, increasing the likelihood that the neuron will fire & pass on an electrical impulse. What am I?

Answer 16

Excitation

Question 17

Does adrenaline cause an excitatory or inhibitory effect?

Answer 17

Excitatory

Question 18

Nerve cells can receive both excitatory or inhibitory signals at the same time. True or false?

Answer 18

True

Question 19

What determines whether or not a cell fires?

Answer 19

SUMMATION - if excitation outweighs inhibitory the cell will fire, if inhibitory outweighs excitatory it will not fire.

The likelihood of the cell firing is determined by adding up the excitatory and the inhibitory synaptic input.

The net sum of this calculation (summation) determines whether or not the cell fires.

Question 20

What is meant by summation?

Answer 20

The net sum of excitatory and the inhibitory synaptic inputs.

Question 21

Terminal buttons send impulses to the next neuron in the chain across the…

Answer 21

synapse

Question 22

Excitation makes it more likely a neighboring neuron will fire. True or false?

Answer 22

True

Question 23

SSRIs slow down the reabsorption of serotonin. True or false?

Answer 23

False - they speed up the reabsorption of serotonin

Question 24

Dopamine and serotonin are types of what?

Answer 24

Neurotransmitters