BP- Synaptic Transmission Flashcards
What do neurons transmit?
Neurons transmit electrical impulses known as action potentials
Where do neurons transmit action potentials to and from?
Neurons transmit action potentials between the pre synaptic neuron and the post synaptic neuron
What happens when the action potentials reaches the pre synaptic terminal?
1) When the action potential reaches the pre synaptic terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from sacs on the pre synaptic membrane known as vesicles in a process called exocytosis.
2) The released neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft where it binds to specialised post synaptic receptor sites.
What is reuptake?
Re-uptake is a process that terminates synaptic transmission.
- The neurotransmitter is taken back by the vesicles on the pre synaptic neuron where they are stored for later release.
Where are the vesicles containing the neurotransmitters found?
on the pre synaptic membrane.
Where are the receptors for the neurotransmitters found?
on the post synaptic membrane.
What are psychoactive drugs?
Psychoactive drugs are medication that affects brain function to alter perception, mood or behaviour.
What do psychoactive drugs such as SSRIs do?
They work by affecting (increasing or inhibiting) the transmission of neurotransmitters across the synapse.
What are the two ways that neurotransmitters can be?
Excitatory and inhibitory
What do excitatory neurotransmitters do?
Excitatory neurotransmitters cause an EXCITATORY POST SYNAPTIC POTENTIAL (EPSP), meaning that the neurone is more likely to fire an impulse.
What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do?
Inhibitory neurotransmitters like GABA cause an INHIBITORY POST-SYNAPTIC POTENTIAL (IPSP), making it less likely that the neuron will fire an impulse.
What is summation?
Summation is a net result of the calculation of the likelihood that the cell will fire an impulse (excitatory & inhibitory synaptic input is added together)
