Chapter 2.2 Flashcards
Agonist:
increase transmitters, makes them more available
Antagonist:
blocks receptors so NTcan’t produce
Glutamate:
most common excitatory NT in the brain
● MSG (monosodium glutamate): A flavor enhancer, only eating spoonfuls of it will
make you sick
○ In so many foods
Ketamine
○ Produces out of body/ near death experiences
■ Caused by brain producing ketamine like substance when you stop
breathing, which slows down Glutamate receptors, giving you 10
minutes to possibly get your heart beating again
Dextromethorphan:
cough syrup, also antagonizes
○ Implicated with schizophrenia
GABA:
most common inhibitory NT
● High amounts produced during deep sleep, low during anxiety
○ If you have high anxiety, produce less GABA
● Does not cross BBB: do not take GABA pills as they wont work
Drugs that agonize GABA
○ Benzodiazepines: Valium, Librium, Xanax
○ Alcohol: effects lots of NT, like dopamine
Adenosine:
(minor NT), likely the most manipulated NT
● Promotes sleep, makes you sleepy
● Not as powerful as GABA
● Builds throughout the day
● Caffeine antagonizes
Serotonin:
5-HT
● Has many functions, but cannot buy “serotonin pills”
● 80% produced in the gut, used to move food along your gut
○ High amount produced when you eat foods that don’t agree with you
○ Area postrema detects high amount of serotonin, triggers
diarrhea+vomiting
● Most antidepressants agonize 5-HT: SSRIS, SNRIS, molly, MDMA
● High carb diet elevates serotonin: why clinically depressed crave high carb food
○ As insulin increases, availability of serotonin increases
Nitric Oxide, NO:
(not laughing gas), a NT that is a gas
● Many roles
○ Moves food in gut
○ Changes neural structure
○ Increases blood flow to needed sections of the brain
■ Sildenafil (Viargra) is an NO agonist
Endorphins:
produced in pituitary and hypothalamus
● Analgesic effect= euphoria
● Body makes it when you…exercise vigorously, are excited, in pain, eat spicy
food, orgasm
