Neurotransmitters release and Schizophrenia

Question 1

Dendrites
Axon
Terminal
Synapse

Answer 1

Input
Propagation
Output
Junction between 2 neurons where info is exchanged. Pre S. and Post S.

Question 2

Describe what happens at the synapse

Answer 2

1-The pre-synaptic neuron sends electrical signal from the axon hillock to the axon terminal.
2- At the synapse the electrical signals gets converted into a chemical signal
3-The postsynaptic neuron converts the chemical signal into an electrical signal.

Question 3

Neurons are polarized -70mV
Em and current

Answer 3

Em is the separation of charges across the membrane and the current is the movement of ions across the membrane through the channel.

Question 4

What is the action potential?

Answer 4

The electrical signal used for neuronal communication.

Question 5

What is the role of action potential

Answer 5

Action potential depolarizes the membrane which then causes calcium channels to open and cause a post-synaptic potential.

Question 6

How does calcium cause vesicles to fuse with the membrane?

Answer 6

After depolarization, calcium channels opens and calcium enters the axon terminal which then bind to the synaptotagmin( calcium sensors that triggers exocytosis). Synaptotagmin triggers the snare complex (group of proteins that dock vesicles) to undergo confirmation changes that make the vesicle and plasma membrane fuse to release the neurotransmitter.

Question 7

EPSP

Answer 7

Excitatory post synaptic potential.
The neurotransmitter bind sodium channel and causes sodium to depolarize the postsynaptic cell which will lead to an action potential.
AMPA! Fast acting short-lived response.

Question 8

IPSP

Answer 8

Inhibitory post synaptic potential. The neurotransmitter bind chloride channel and causes an influx of chloride that hyperpolarize the cell and leads to delayed action potentials.
GABA! Fast acting short lived response.

Question 9

What is Schizophrenia?

Answer 9

split off from reality.

Question 10

Etiology of Schizophrenia

Answer 10

-Genetic heredity accounts for 80-85% chances of getting schizophrenia. Identical twins are the most susceptible to getting schizophrenia if one of them has it due to how similar their DNA is.
-Environmental risk factors account for 11% of the chances of getting schizophrenia. Caused by gestational and birth complications, stressful childhood events and cannabis usage during adolescence (increases risk of psychosis).

Question 11

Three types of symptoms

Answer 11

-Positives symptoms- things that shouldn’t be there like delusions, hallucinations, paranoia
-Negative symptoms- things that should be there but are in a negative way like decreased motivation, social withdrawal, poverty of speech.
-Cognitive deficits- Impairments in executive function, attention, working memory, episodic memory, language comprehension.