Neurobiology

Question 1

What are the inhibitory/calming neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

–serotonin
–GABA

Question 2

What are the excitatory neurotransmitters?

Answer 2

–dopamine
–glutamine

Question 3

Examples of “other” neurotranmitters

Answer 3

–acetylcholine
–histamine
–norepinephrine

Question 4

amygdala

Answer 4

–processes emotions (anxiety, fear, pleasure)

Question 5

what does serotonin modulate?

Answer 5

–mood
–emotion
–pain
–sleep
–appetite
–temp regulation

Question 6

what psych issues are caused by decreased serotonin?

Answer 6

depressive and anxiety disorders

Question 7

what is dopamine responsible for?

Answer 7

–pleasurable feelings
–complex motor activities
–plays a role in hallucinations

Question 8

what psych issues are caused by decreased dopamine?

Answer 8

depression and addiction

Question 9

what psych issues are caused by increased dopamine?

Answer 9

mania and positive symptoms in schizophrenia

Question 10

what is norepi responsible for?

Answer 10

–levels affect mood, attention, and arousal
–stimulates “fight or flight” response

Question 11

what psych issues are caused by decreased levels of dopamine?

Answer 11

depression

Question 12

what psych issues are caused by increased levels of dopamine?

Answer 12

mania, anxiety, and schizophrenia

Question 13

what is GABA responsible for?

Answer 13

–major inhibitory mechanism
–reduces anxiety, aggression, and stress
–regulates norepi, adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin

Question 14

what psych issues are caused by decreased GABA?

Answer 14

anxiety, mania, and schizophrenia

Question 15

what does too much glutamate cause?

Answer 15

seizure activity and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s

Question 16

What does too little glutamate cause?

Answer 16

psychosis, autism, OCD, depression, schizophrenia

Question 17

What does acetylcholine affect?

Answer 17

–cognitive functioning
–sleep-wake cycles

Question 18

what does too little acetylcholine cause?

Answer 18

–Alzheimer’s
–sleep disorders

Question 19

what does too much acetylcholine cause?

Answer 19

depression

Question 20

neuroplasticity

Answer 20

the ability of the brain to change with learning

Question 21

synaptic pruning

Answer 21

–neurological process that removes unnecessary/damaged neuronal structures
–overpruning in schizophrenia

Question 22

apraxia

Answer 22

difficulty with motor planning to perform tasks or movements (speech, fine motor skills, etc.)