Neurotransmitters

Question 1

Acetylcholine

Answer 1

Excitation

Attention, memory and learning

Drugs with strong anticholinergic properties (e.g., antihistamines, first- generation antipsychotics, and tricyclic antidepressants) may exert negative effects on these areas, particularly when administered to the elderly or others with reduced cognitive and or cerebral reserve.

Question 2

Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline: stress hormone)

Answer 2

Excitation

Arousal, shifting attention, mood, sleep-wake cycle

Plays role in depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety/OCD

• Drugs commonly prescribed for ADHD (methylphenidate [Ritalin, Concerta], amphetamine/dextroamphetamine [Adderall]) increase levels of NE and dopamine,
• atomoxetine (Strattera) is a specific norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that only affects NE.

Question 3

Serotonin

Answer 3

Inhibition

Mood, arousal, pain, temperature NOT ATTENTION

Plays role: anxiety/OCD, depression, aggressive behavior, eating disorders

Drugs affecting serotonin metabolism are commonly prescribed for depression, generalized anxiety, and social phobia. Some (e.g., fluoxetine [Prozac], sertraline [Zoloft]) are serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors, whereas others (e.g., venlafaxine [Effexor]) effect reuptake inhibition in the serotonergic and noradrenergic system.

Question 4

Dopamine

Answer 4

Inhibitory and excitatory

Subsystems:
1) Mesostriatal system- arises from substantia nigra and projects to the striatum (caudate and putamen) in BG. (Meso= middle brain/midbrain, striatal = striatum; input from BG)
- pathway implicated in Parkinson’s disease, and dysfunction here can produce disabling motor and nonmotor symptoms

2) Mesolimbic pathway - arises in ventral tegmental area and projects to the medial temporal lobe, amygdala, cingulate cortex
- key role in reward functioning and has been implicated in addictive behavior.
- overactivity = positive symptoms of schizophrenia

3) Mesocortical system - arises from the ventral tegmental area and projects primarily to cortical regions of the frontal lobe.
- key role in EF, working memory, top-down attention, and initiation of motor activity. Dysfunction = negative symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as dysexecutive syndrome and bradykinesia.

Question 5

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Answer 5

Inhibitory

(Broad functions) regulating sleep and arousal, attentional shifting

Huntington’s

Question 6

Glutamate

Answer 6

Excitation

(Broad functions) learning and memory, particularly long-term potentiation (LTP)

Question 7

Adrenergic (epinephrine) neurons originate in what area?

Answer 7

(lateral) tegmental area

Question 8

Which three neurotransmitters are involved in depressive disorders?

Answer 8

Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine

Question 9

Benzodiazepines can affect memory and psychomotor speed by:

Answer 9

potentiating GABA-ergic transmission, by exerting their sedative and antianxiety properties

Question 10

Site of production for: serotonin, dopamine, adreneric/epinephrine, acetylcholine

Answer 10

serotonin - raphe nuclei (brainstem)

dopamine - substantia nigra & lateral tegmental area

Adrenaline (epinephrine) - Locus coeruleus (within the pons) & adrenal medulla (small organ on top of kidney)

acetylcholine - basal forebrain

Question 11

Examples of catecholamines

Answer 11

Dopamine (increased with stimulant meds)
Norepinephrine (increased with non-stimulant meds)