Intro to neuroscience Flashcards
glutamate (amino acid)
most prevalent excitatory NT
a) ionotropic
1. kainate (Na+ influx)
2. AMPA (Na+ influx)
3. NMDA ( requires depolarization, some Mg2+, then
Ca2+/Na+ influx) learning and epilepsy
b) metabotropic: GPCRs, over 100 subtypes
GABA (amino acid)
most prevalent inhibitory NT
a) ionotropic (GABA A) Cl- influx, benzos and alcohol are agonists
b) metabotropic
1. GABA B GPCR and second messengers
2. GIRK channels
glycine (amino acid)
inhibitory NT similar to GABA, particularly active in spinal cord
ACh (biogenic amine)
all motor neurons on skeletal muscle. Comes from acetyl coA and choline using CHAT. Degraded by acetyl cholinesterase.
- nicotinic (ionotropic): skeletal muscle. N+ and Ca2+ influx. More nicotinic in PNS
- muscarinic (metabotropic): more in CNS
myasthenia gravis
autoantibodies against nicotinic receptors. muscle weakness with repeated contraction.
Treatment: AChE inhibitors (more ACh in synapse)
dopamine (monoamine-catecholamine)
- D1: excitatory
- D2: inhibitory
Found in:
a) substantia nigra: involved with basal ganglia circuit, loss of DA here is cause of Parkinson’s disease
b) ventral tegmental area (VTA): involved with addiction and schizophrenia
norepinephrine (monoamine-catecholamine)
involved in arousal, alertness, attention. Produced in locus ceruleus in pons. PNS sympathetic NT. 2 alpha and 2 beta receptor subtypes (all metabotropic).
serotonin (5-HT) (monoamine-indolamine)
related to depression. Made in raphe nuclei of midbrain. At least 7 receptor subtypes. SSRIs, MAOIs, and SNRIs used to leave more 5-HT in synapse.
histamine (monoamine)
involved in consciousness. Made in tuberomamillary nucleus of hypothalamus and mast cells in brain.
neuropeptides
co-released with other NTs. Packaged in golgi, cleaved, fast axonal transport, vesicles not recycled, require high frequency APs, eg. substance P, VIP, CCK, ADH, endorphins.
adenosine (neuro-signaling molecule)
sedative. Co-released with glutamate. Antagonist is caffeine. Receptors are GPCRs.
Nitric oxide (NO)
gasseous NT. Diffuses quickly in many directions. Synthesized immediately before use.
basal ganglia
subcortical, wraps around thalamus. Sets up chains and sequences of motor activation.
caudate nucleus + putamen
corpus striatum (of basal ganglia)
globus pallidus + putamen
lentiform nucleus (of basal ganglia)
caudate nucleus + lentiform nucleus
basal ganglia
corpus striatum + globus pallidus
basal ganglia
caudate nucleus + putamen + globus pallidus
basal ganglia
diencephalon components
retina, thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and subthalamus
brainstem components
midbrain, pons, and medulla
midbrain location
either side of cerebral aquaduct
pons location
bumpy bulgy thing
medulla location
underneath bulge
midbrain parts
tegmentum (floor)-> cranial nerve nuclei (III, IV, V, VI)
reticular formation: NTs that are not glutamate or GABA
tectum (roof)->corpora quadrigemina->sup. and inf. colliculi
pons components
basis pontis: white matter and pontine nuclei
pontine tegmentum: cranial nerve nuclei, reticular formation, and micturition center
medulla components
open portion (includes tegmentum: cranial nerve nuclei, reticular formation, cardiac and respiratory control centers) closed portion: white matter
cerebellum
unconscious proprioceptive input, coordinates complex movements, measures muscle position relative targets, responsible for normal gait and posture
association fibers
pass from one part of a single hemisphere to another
commissural fibers
link matching areas of the two hemispheres (e.g. corpus callosum, anterior commissure)
projection fibers
run between levels (cortical to subcortical)
corpus callosum components (rostral to caudal)
rostrum, genu, trunk, isthmus, splenium
projection fibers (superficial to deep)
corona radiata, internal capsule, crus cerebri (cerebral peduncles), pyramids
sensory modality that does not decussate
proprioception
