Neurotransmitters Flashcards

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1
Q

Define neurotransmitter

A
  • chemical messengers which transmit information from one neuron to another.
  • can be affected by agonists (chemicals that enhance the action of neurotransmitters) and antagonists (chemicals that counteract neurotransmitters).
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2
Q

Describe neurotransmission

A
  • an electrical signal comes down from the axon and generates action potential
  • synaptic vesicles contain neurotransmitters to move towards pre-synaptic membrane
  • neurotransmitters diffuse across the gap and attaches(binds) to the post-synaptic membrane(complementary shapes)
  • after crossing the synapse, neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on the post-synaptic membrane, like a key in a lock
  • reuptake–reabsorption of neurotransmitter
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3
Q

Define inhibitory neurotransmitters

A
  • stop the impulse, preventing it from crossing the synapse.

- produce calming effects on the brain.

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4
Q

Define excitatory neurotransmitters

A
  • allow the impulse to cross the synapse.

- produce stimulating effects on the brain.

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5
Q

Study 1

A

Martinez and Kesner (1991) - acetylcholine & memory formation

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6
Q

Aim 1

A

to measure the role of acetylcholine in the formation of spatial memory.

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7
Q

Procedure 1

A
  • 30 rats were placed in the maze individually and completed the maze (maze had a reward of food at the end).
  • rats were given their respective treatments 10mins before running the maze.
    1. injected with scopolamine (antagonist - blocks the ACH receptor sites and inhibits response)
    2. not injected or altered in any form (control).
  • time taken for individuals rats to complete the maze were recorded.
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8
Q

Results 1

A
  • rats in condition 1 took longer to complete the maze.
  • Acetylcholine may plays an important role in the consolidation of spatial memory as the rats in control group (with more ACH) took shorter time to complete the maze.
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9
Q

Evaluation 1

A
  • lab enviroment: high scientific rigour, results are highly accurate.
  • strong applications - the development of treatment form dementia or alzheimer’s disease.
  • animals selected are similar to humans (can serve as models for human physiology and behaviour).
  • a reductionist approach to understand memory - didn’t explain the complexity of types and process of memory consolidation
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10
Q

Study 2

A

Antonova et al (2011) - acetylcholine on encoding spatial memory

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11
Q

Procedure 2

A
  • participants were 20 male adults with a mean age of 28.
  • they were randomly allocated to the two conditions respectively (70-90mins before the experiment, they were either):
    1. injected with scopolamine
    2. injected with placebo.
  • the participants were then put into an fMRI where they were scanned while playing “Arena task” - a virtual reality game in which the participants need to navigate around an “arena” with the goal of reaching a pole.
  • it will then go blank for 30s.
  • when the arena reappeared, the participants would have to use their spatial memory to determine how to get to the location o the pole.
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12
Q

Results 2

A
  • participants injected with scopolamine (antagonist) demonstrated a significant reduction in the activation of the hippocampus compared to when they received a placebo.
  • thus ACH could play a key role in the encoding of spatial memories in humans.
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13
Q

Evaluation 2

A
  • double-blind procedure: control for research & participant bias.
  • the sample size was small: need replication to decide whether the results are reliable.
  • no ethical concerns as no physical and psychological harms were done to the participants.
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14
Q

Behaviour

A

acetylcholine on encoding spatial memory.

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15
Q

Aim 2

A

to measure the role of acetylcholine in the formation of spatial memory

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