Psych Neurotransmitters/hormones/drugs Flashcards
acetylcholine
- voluntary muscle control (can be excitatory or inhibitory)
- parasympathetic nervous system causes this to be released for the rest and digest
- attention
- alertness
epinephrine and norepinephrine
- fight or flight responses
- wakefulness
- alertness
- released from the adrenal medulla
- amino acid derivative
- can increase blood glucose concentrations
Dopamine
maintains:
- smooth movements
- postural stability
- believed to be the cause of hallucinations in schizophrenia
- allow plays a role in the pleasure/reward pathway and has a euphoric effect
serotonin
- mood
- sleep
- eating
- dreaming
GABA/ glycine
- these act to inhibit postsynaptic potentials by hyperpolarizing the postsynaptic membrane
- brain “stabilization
glutamate
- this is an excitatory neurotransmitter and is known for brain excitation
endorphins
act as natural pain killers and can create a sense of euphoria
peptide hormone
released from the anterior pituitary
agonist
this is a type of drug that mimics the actions of a neurotransmitter
antagonist
this is a drug that blocks the action of
neurotransmitters
cortisol
stress hormone released by adrenal cortex
- increase blood glucose concentrations; decrease protein synthesis; anti inflammatory
this is a glucocorticoid
testosterone
- mediates libido
- increases aggressive behavior
- released from adrenal cortex
- produced in the testes
steroid hormone
estrogen
- mediates libido
- released from adrenal cortex
- produced in the ovaries
steroid hormone
depressants
- sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety
ex. alcohols, barbiturates, benzodiazepines
stimulants
- increased arousal
ex. amphetamines, cocaine, ecstacy
opiates/opiods
- decreased reaction to pain; euphoria
ex. heroin, morphine, opium, pain pills
hallucinogens
- distortions of reality and fantasy; introspection
ex. LSD, peyote, mescaline, ketamine, psilocybin containing mushrooms
marijuana
- this has some features of depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens (in very high doses)
follicle stimulating hormone
- peptide hormone
- released from the anterior pituitary
this stimulates the follicle in females and promotes spermatogenesis in males
luteinizing hormone
- peptide hormone
- released from the anterior pituitary
stimulates ovulation and the production of the corpus luteum in females
stimulates testosterone synthesis in males
ACTH
- peptide hormone
- released from the anterior pituitary
stimulates the adrenal cortex to synthesize and secrete glucocorticoids
thyroid stimulating hormone
- peptide hormone
- released from the anterior pituitary
stimulates the thyroid to produce the thyroid hormones
prolactin
- peptide hormone
- released from the anterior pituitary
stimulates milk production and secretion
growth hormone
stimulates bone and muscle growth; raises blood glucose levels
antidiuretic hormone / vasopressin
- peptide hormone
- released by the posterior pituitary gland
- made in the hypothalamus
stimulates water reabsorption in the kidneys by increasing the permeability of the collecting duct
- this only reabsorbs water so blood pressure will increase and the blood osmolarity will decrease
oxytocin
- peptide hormone
- released by the posterior pituitary gland
- made in the hypothalamus
stimulates uterine contractions during labor and milk secretion during lactation and may promote bonding behavior
thyroid hormone
- amino acid derived
- released from the follicular cells of the thyroid
T3 and T4
stimulate metabolic activity
calcitonin
- peptide hormone
- released from the c cells of the thyroid
decreases blood calcium levels
parathyroid hormone
- peptide hormone
- released from the parathyroid glands
-increases blood calcium concentrations
glucocorticoids
- released from the adrenal cortex
- these are steroid hormones
ex. cortisol and cortisone - increase blood glucose concentrations
- decrease protein synthesis
- anti inflammatory
mineralocorticoids
- released from the adrenal cortex
- these are steroid hormones
ex. aldosterone - increases water reabsorption in the kidneys by increasing sodium reabsorption; promotes potassium and hydrogen ion excretion
- this causes both salt and water to be reabsorbed so the blood volume increases, increasing the blood pressure but the blood osmolarity remains constant
glucagon
- a peptide hormone
- released from the alpha cells of the pancreas
- stimulates glycogen breakdown
- increases blood glucose levels
insulin
- a peptide hormone
- released from the beta cells of the pancreas
lowers blood glucose levels and promotes anabolic processes
somatostatin
- a peptide hormone
- released from the delta cells (d cells because down regulates)
suppresses secretion of glucagon and insulin
progesterone
- a steroid hormone
- produced by ovary and corpus luteum
- promotes maintenance of the endometrium and gestation
melatonin
- amino acid derived hormone
- produced by the pineal gland
involved in circadian rhythms
erythropoietin
- released from the kidney
- peptide hormone
stimulates bone marrow to produce erythrocytes (RBCs)
atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
- peptide hormone
- released from the heart
- promotes salt and water excretion
this means that both salt and water will be leaving the blood, so osmolarity is not affected but overall blood volume is decreasing
thymosin
- released from the thymus
- peptide hormone
- stimulates T cell development (type of WBC)
