Neurons, synaptic transmission and neurotransmitters

Question 1

What are the three neurons and their function?

Answer 1

• Motor neurons receive messages from the CNS and generate movements
• Sensory neurons transmit information from the 5 senses to CNS
• Relay neurons connect sensory and motor neurons together and also connect to other relay neurons(only found in CNS)

Question 2

The journey of neuron

Answer 2

• branch-like dendrites turn information into an electrical signal
• this electrical charge travels down the axon(long tail of the cell) until it gets to the axon terminals
• these terminals pass the information on to the dendrites of the next cell in the chain, the space between is the synaptic gap

Question 3

how does neurotransmitter get diffused

Answer 3

released from synaptic vesicles from presynaptic neurons, float across the synaptic cleft until they are picked up by special receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, they are converted back into an electrical charge

Question 4

re-uptake

Answer 4

when neurotransmitters that don’t attach themselves to a receptor at the other end are recycled to be used again

Question 5

dopamine

Answer 5

a neurotransmitter associated with reward, it creates feelings of pleasure
- cause excitation of the postsynaptic neuron by increasing its positive charge and more likely to fire off the message - to continue passing along the message to the next cell

Question 6

serotonin

Answer 6

neurotransmitter use to reduce depression
- cause inhibition in the postsynaptic neuron making the neuron more negatively charged and less likely to fire off the message
- widespread inhibitory effects on transmission between neurons in the brain
- it slows down and dampens neuronal activity
Decreased serotonin may reduce self-control and lead to more impulsive behaviors including aggression

Question 7

cocaine

Answer 7

stimulant effect on the central nervous system(CNS)

Question 8

heroin

Answer 8

has depressant effects on the CNS, it slows down CNS activity
- an agonist drug because it mimics the action of another natural biochemical