Neurotransmitters in the Nervous System -----TYPES OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Question 1

Causes skeletal muscle contraction (excitatory)

Answer 1

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 2

Controls sympathetic effects on organs— Effects are either excitatory or inhibitory based on
whether the organ contains more alpha or beta receptors.

Answer 2

Noradrenalin/Norepinephrine (NA/NE)

Question 3

Inhibits/suppresses skeletal muscle contractions

Answer 3

Dopamine

Question 4

Controls Sleep/Wake Cycle

Answer 4

Serotonin

Question 5

Excitatory NT used solely within the CNS

Answer 5

Glutamate

Question 6

Inhibitory NT used solely within the CNS

Answer 6

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Question 7

Action potentials caused by this NT are interpreted by the brain as pain

Answer 7

Substance P

Question 8

Natural painkillers that block pain sensations

Answer 8

Endorphins and Enkephalins

Question 9

Excitatory in ganglia

Answer 9

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 10

Emotions—Low levels can cause clinical depression

Answer 10

Noradrenalin/Norepinephrine (NA/NE)

Question 11

Emotions—Involved in pleasure, reward, motivation

When released in response to an activity, dopamine reinforces that behavior.

Answer 11

Dopamine

Question 12

Emotions—Low levels can cause clinical depression, anxiety, obsessions & compulsions

Answer 12

Serotonin

Question 13

Especially important in learning and memory formation

Answer 13

Glutamate

Question 14

Epilepsy Treatment—Anticonvulsants ↑ GABA release. This suppresses epileptic seizures
because GABA stops APs from being made.

Answer 14

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Question 15

Opioid Painkillers block its release & also activate natural painkiller pathways

What are some opioids?

Answer 15

Substance P

Opioid PKs: Morphine, Heroin, Oxycodone

Question 16

Opioid Painkillers bind to their receptors

Answer 16

Endorphins and Enkephalins

Question 17

Controls parasympathetic effects on organs–Effects are mostly excitatory (but can be inhibitory)

Answer 17

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 18

Adrenergic Receptors, found in all organs, are divided into two types: alpha (α) & beta (β).

Answer 18

Noradrenalin/Norepinephrine (NA/NE)

Question 19

Dopamine reuptake blocked by drug. Dopamine remains in synapses, flooding brain, stays active
for long periods, causing extreme “high.”

Answer 19

Addiction & Dopamine Dysregulation:

Question 20

Several antidepressants are SSRIs: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

What are the names of the antidepressants?

Answer 20

Serotonin

Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft

Question 21

Excitotoxicity: Is toxic to neurons—literally “excites” them to death

Answer 21

Glutamate

Question 22

Sedatives enhance GABA’s effects: Alcohol, Benzodiazepines (Valium & Xanax), Barbiturates

Answer 22

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Question 23

Cholinergic Receptors are divided into two types:

Answer 23

Nicotinic receptors are found in both skeletal muscle and in ganglia.
Muscarinic receptors are found in all organs

Question 24

Major “Feel-Good” NT–Drugs that give a “high” can increase its effects in 3 ways:

Answer 24

1) Increase the amount released from presynaptic knob
2) Inhibit the MAO enzyme (that breaks it down in the synapse)
3) Block reuptake (reabsorption into presynaptic knob)

Question 25

Brain makes less and less dopamine. (Why bother making any, there’s already too much?)

Answer 25

Addiction & Dopamine Dysregulation:

Question 26

Hallucinogens often disrupt the serotonin system in the brain

What are some of the hallucinogens?

Answer 26

Serotonin

LSD, magic mushrooms, mescaline

Question 27

Stroke– Brain damage occurs when a small number of dying neurons release their
glutamate, triggering cell-suicide in the surrounding neurons

Answer 27

Glutamate

Question 28

Dopamine is depleted (runs out), several weeks are needed to produce enough for normal
functioning. Result is a “crash” of depression & anxiety.

Answer 28

Addiction & Dopamine Dysregulation

Question 29

Lou Gehrig Disease—Excess glutamate causes death of motor neurons & severe muscle atrophy

Answer 29

Glutamate

Question 30

Drug use is needed to experience pleasure but using also suppresses dopamine release even
more

Answer 30

Addiction & Dopamine Dysregulation

Question 31

keep glutamate from binding to its receptors—
Causing “disconnected” feeling from self & reality, memory loss, pain & sensation loss,
hallucinations, trances

What are some of the drugs?

Answer 31

Dissociative Anesthetics

Cough suppressants, PCP, Ketamine

Question 32

is toxic to neurons—literally ‘excited to death,’ causes ‘cell suicide’

Answer 32

Glutamate

Question 33

So they not only block pain, they also give a natural “high,” which makes them much more effective pain killers & makes them addictive.

Answer 33

Opioid Painkillers

Question 34

How does dopamine causes addiction (addictive behaviors).?

Answer 34

Dopamine turns on the ‘pleasure center’ of brain: This means that any activities (even just eating) that trigger the release of dopamine produce a feeling of pleasure that reinforces those activities/behavior.