Neuropharmacology

Question 1

List of neurotransmitters

Answer 1

Dopamine, serotonin, endorphin, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, endocannabinoid

Question 2

Neurotransmitter for opioids

Answer 2

Endorphin

Question 3

Neurotransmitters for alcohol

Answer 3

GABA and glutamate

Question 4

Drug for serotonin

Answer 4

MDMA (ecstasy)

Question 5

Drugs for dopamine

Answer 5

Cocaine, amphetamine

Question 6

Neurotransmitter for nicotine

Answer 6

Acetylcholine

Question 7

Neurotransmitter for cannabis

Answer 7

Endocannibinoid

Question 8

Synaptic cleft/gap

Answer 8

Space between the terminal button and the dendrite of the target cell

Question 9

Excitatory neurotransmitter

Answer 9

Opens sodium channels allowing sodium ions to enter the postsynaptic cell, creating a positive internal charge and hence increasing the probability of an action potential

Question 10

Opens potassium channels releasing potassium ions trapped within the postsynaptic cell, creating a negative internal charge and hence decreasing the probability of an action potential

Answer 10

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Question 11

Reuptake

Answer 11

Reabsorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by the presynaptic cell

Question 12

Agonist

Answer 12

Drug that fits a receptor perfectly and thus causes the channel to open or close

Question 13

Drug that fits a receptor imperfectly and thus blocks the action of the neurotransmitter

Answer 13

Antagonist

Question 14

Action potential

Answer 14

Process by which an electrical signal is transmitted along an axon, travelling from dendrites to terminal buttons

Question 15

Resting membrane potential

Answer 15

Voltage of a neuron when it is not firing, maintained by pumping positive sodium ions out of the potassium ions into the cell

Question 16

Dendrites

Answer 16

Branch-like structures that receive information and signals from other neurons

Question 17

Cell body (soma)

Answer 17

Control region which contains the machinery that keeps the neuron alive and functioning

Question 18

Pass neurotransmitters to the dendrite of a neighbouring cell

Answer 18

Terminal buttons

Question 19

Thin fibre extending from the soma which is involved in transmitting electrical signals to other neurons via action potential

Answer 19

Axon

Question 20

Plot of response to drugs, indexed by measure of behaviour or experience (eg. pain relief) against the dose of the drug administered

Answer 20

Dose-response curve

Question 21

Analgesia

Answer 21

Pain reduction

Question 22

Subjective pleasure

Answer 22

Euphoria

Question 23

Neuroplasticity

Answer 23

Ability of the brain to change continuously throughout an individual’s life

Question 24

Mesolimbic pathway

Answer 24

Transports dopamine from the VTA (ventral tegmental area) to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. Common path for drugs to produce their rewarding effects

Question 25

Nucleus

Answer 25

Contains the DNA of the cell to be used in transcription and other processes

Question 26

Myelin

Answer 26

Insulating sheath that allows electrical signals to travel down the axon quickly and without losing significant strength

Question 27

Nodes of Ranvier

Answer 27

Gaps in the myelin sheath that allow the electrical impulse to move quickly down the axon