Neurons & Neurotransmitters Flashcards
The cerebral cortex is responsible for
human intellect
If you were to lay the cerebral cortex on a table, it would be the size of
a large pillowcase
In order to fit such a large cerebral cortex into our smallish skulls, our brains have what kind of appearance?
folded appearance
The cerebral cortex is divided into what four areas?
Frontal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Which lobe is responsible for executive function?
Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe plays an important role in what two mental disorders?
Substance Abuse
ADHD
Limbic System
A complex system of neurons buried deep in the brain that controls learning (storing), memory (recalling), emotions, and basic drives.
Parts of the limbic system
Hippocampus (memory)
Amygdala (emotions)
Hypothalamus (maintains homeostasis)
What kind of medications interact with neurons in the limbic system?
Psychiatric Medications
How many neurons are in the human brain?
About 86 billion
Do these neurons touch?
No. They “communicate” by sending chemicals called neurotransmitters.
What have receptors that are triggered by neurotransmitters?
Dendrites
What is the electrical discharge that fires down the axon?
Action Potential
The action potential travels down the axon until it reaches what?
Axon Terminal
Inside the terminal, what contains neurotransmitters?
Vesicles
The action potential causes vesicles to empty their neurotransmitters into the minuscule gap called what?
Synapse
As these neurotransmitters diffuse into the synapse, they find their way to what?
Postsynaptic Terminals
How many neurotransmitters are in the brain?
Over 50
Which monoamine is used in brain areas that regulate attention, concentration, pleasure, energy, motivation, mood, and muscle movements?
Dopamine (DA)
Clients who have depression or ADHD would benefit from what?
Increasing dopamine levels
Which monoamine is used in brain areas that regulate mood, alertness, concentration, and energy?
Norepinephrine (NE)
Norepinephrine activates what response?
“Fight” or “Flight” Response
Excessive amounts of norepinephrine can result in what?
Anxiety
Depression
Which monoamine is used in brain areas that regulate mood, anxiety, sexual desire, and appetite?
Serotonin (5-HT)
What is the main excitatory neurotransmitter?
Glutamate
What happens to clients who are withdrawing from CNS antidepressants like alcohol?
There is often an imbalance between glutamate and the next neurotransmitter.
What is the main inhibitor neurotransmitter?
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
What is the brains gas pedal? Break pedal?
Gas pedal- Glutamate
Break pedal- GABA
What is used in the brain areas that regulate attention and memory?
Acetylcholine
It is helpful to increase acetylcholine levels in clients who have what diseases?
Alzheimer’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease
What three major ways do neurons terminate a signal?
Diffusion
Enzymatic Degradation
Reuptake
What happens during diffusion?
Once neurotransmitters enter the synapse, they will eventually float away into the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid, where they no longer can activate postsynaptic receptors.
What happens during enzymatic degradation?
The brain makes enzymes that break apart neurotransmitters. End in -ase
Remember Pac-Man chomping
What happens during reuptake?
The presynaptic terminal has pumps that can suck neurotransmitters back inside the presynaptic terminal where they can be stored for future use.
