Neurotransmitters Flashcards
What are the 4 dopamine pathways?
- Nigrostriatal
- Mesocortical
- Mesolimbic
- Tuberoinfundibular
Which neurotransmitters are excitatory and which are inhibitory?
Excitatory - serotonin, noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine, glutamate
Inhibitory - dopamine, GABA
What is the function of dopamine?
Motivation, novelty seeking, reward circuitry (addiction), arousal, motor movement
What is the role of dopamine in disorders?
Low levels in Parkinson’s and anhedonia
High levels in psychosis
What is the function of noradrenaline?
Arousal, anxiety, mood regulation, autonomic mediation
What is the role of noradrenaline in disorders?
Low levels in depression
Abnormal levels in panic/anxiety disorders
What is the function of serotonin?
Mood, perception of pain, feeding, sleep-wake cycle, motor activity, sexual behaviour, temperature regulation
What is the role of serotonin in disorders?
Low levels cause depression, aggression, suicide, impulsivity
Has a role in psychosis and regulates the dopamine system
What is the function of acetylcholine?
Arousal, learning, memory, REM sleep, pain perception, thirst, parasympathetic mediation
What is the role of acetylcholine in disorders?
Reduced cholinergic function in Alzheimer’s, DA balance affected in Parkinson’s
What is the function of GABA?
Anxiety, seizure cessation, actions of benzodiazepines, barbiturates and alcohol
What is the role of GABA in disorders?
Anxiety and alcoholism mainly, may have a role in other disorders (e.g. epilepsy and Huntington’s)
What is the function of glutamate?
Immediate precursor of GABA, NMDA-memory acquisition, developmental plasticity
What is the role of glutamate in disorders?
Glutamate toxicity in stroke, schizophrenia, seizures, ischaemic brain injury
