Neurotransmission

Question 1

What is neurotransmission?

Answer 1

The process by which a signal or other activity in a neuron is tranferred to an adjacent neuron or other cell.

Question 2

Outline the process of neurotransmission.

Answer 2

• Messages sent via electrical impulse (action potential)
• Travels along the axon of the neuron
• Reaches axon terminal, impulse causes release of neurotransmitters
• NTs released into the synapse
• After crossing synapse, NTs fit like a lock and key into receptor sites on post synaptic membrane
• Changes membrane potential and contributes to activating an electrical impulse in the post-synaptic neuron
• Once message is sent, NTs are broken down by enzymes or re-uptaken by terminal buttons

Question 3

Excitatory transmitter

Answer 3

• Promotes the generation of an electrical signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron

Question 4

Inhibitory

Answer 4

• Prevents the generation of action potential

- Whether a neurotransmitter is excitatory or inhibitory depends on the receptor it binds to

Question 5

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 5

• Chemical messangers in the body.
• Transmit signals from nerve cells may be in muscles, glands or other nerves
• Communication between two neurons happen in the synaptic cleft

Question 6

Acetylcholine

Answer 6

• Plays a major role in the peripheral nervous system
• Released by motor neurons of automatic nervous system
• Plays an important role in central nervous system
• Maintains cognitive function
• Damage to cholinergic neurons of CNS associated with alzheimer’s

Question 7

Agonist

Answer 7

• A drug or other chemical agent that binds to a particular receptor and produces a physiological effect, typically one similar to that of the body’s own neurotransmitter at that receptor

Question 8

Antagonist

Answer 8

• A drug or other chemical agent that inhibits the action of another substance

Question 9

Outline strengths of neurotransmission.

Answer 9

• Theory is based on research using brain scans, making it more scientific as it was not theorized from interpretation
• Has been tested in a reliable and standardized way, for example studies of serotonin have continuously found similar results
• Research has led to the application of neurotransmitters as a treatment for mental illnesses therefore establishing that they have an impact on our behavior,for example, Depression has been treated by SSRI’s

Question 10

Outline limitations of neurtransmission.

Answer 10

• Cannot be directly observed in the brain, so researchers use indirect measures such as animal research, fMRIs showing brain activity or the use of antagonists. This means that the research is based on assumptions that may prove in the future not to be accurate.
• Reductionist to assume that neurotransmitters explain all aspects of behavior
• Does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, as there is bidirectional ambiguity between whether an increase in neurotransmitters cause a behavior or if a behavior causes the increase in neurotransmitters
• Ethical concerns with some research
• Studies may lack ecological validity, not showing how the neurotransmitter functions in normal human behaviour