Neuro Pharm Flashcards
Forebrain is involved in
Movement and sensory processing, thinking, planning, and problem solving
Forebrain structures include
Cerebral cortex Thalamus Hypothalamus Limbic System Basal Ganglia
Thalamus function
Relay states for information for coming into the brain
Hypothalamus function
Stress and emotional responses
Hormonal responses and homeostasis
Temp and appetite
Limbic system function
Amygdala - regulation of fear
Hippocampus - memory formation and regulation of stress responses, emotions, and overall mood
Hippocampus - what is special about the memory component
important in covnerting short term memories into long term memory
Basal Ganglia includes what
Striatum (caudate, putamen)
Globus Pallidus
Lentiform nucleus
Substantia nigra
Basal ganglia function
Control of motor activities and movement
Regulation of reward and pleasure sensations
Hindbrain includes what
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Brainstem function
Pons and Medulla - control of respiration and CV function
Reticular formation - control of consciousness, arousal, alertness
Cerebellum function
Planning and coordination of motor mvmnts
Balance and posture
NTs - Ach - function
Voluntary mm mvmnts Memory and learning Attention Control of sleep stages Mostly excitatory fxn
NTs - Monoamines
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Serotonin
NTs - Monoamines - Dopamine
Movement and hormonal responses
Psychiatric manifestations - altered mental states and/or mental illness
NTs - Monoamines - Norepinephrine
Learning and memory, control of alertness vs. sleep
Fight or flight responses
NTs - Monoamines - Serotonin
COntrol of emotional states and mood
Depression and anxiety
Glutamate is
excitatory
Excitotoxicity
Can damage CNS if get excitotoxicity from too much glutamate
GABA is
inhibitory
Drugs that increase GABA produce
relaxation sedation sleep reduced anxiety muscle relaxation
Neuropeptides
Substance P - excitatory involved in spinal pain processing
Endogenous opioids - inhibit pain sensation
BBB - function of
tight junction between endothelial cells on CNS capillaries
BBB - selective filter
prevents many substances from entering the brain and spinal cord
BBB - does not let what cross
Polar and lipophobic compounds
BBB - what can cross
no charge
lipophilic
Affective or Mood disorders are classified based on
whether patient experiences manic episodes or not
Major Depressive Disorder or Unipolar Depression
No manic episodes
Tx with antidepressants
Bipolar Disorder
Periods of depression with periods of mania
Tx with mood stabilizing drugs - LITHIUM
Currently available tx for depression
Psychotherapy
Chemical antidepressants
ElectroConvulsive Therapy
Chemical antidepressants - effectiveness
improve sx in 50-70% of patients with MDD
Chemical antidepressants - two bad things
Delay of therapeutic effect - takes weeks or months
Side effects can limit usage
Hypothesis of Depression (2)
Monoamine/Biogenic Amine Hypothesis
Neurotrophic Hypothesis
Hypothesis of Depression - Monoamine/Biogenic Amine Hypothesis
Deficiency in the level of 5HT, NE, DA
All currently available antidepressants enhance the synaptic availability of monoamines
Hypothesis of Depression - Neurotrophic Hypothesis
Loss of neurotrophic support (BDNF) and related signlaing play a role in cell survival and synaptic plasticity