Psychopharmacology

Question 0

What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 0

GABA

Question 1

What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter?

Answer 1

Glutamate

Question 2

What are antagonists?

Answer 2

Drugs that oppose or inhibit the effects of a NT on the postsynaptic cell.

Question 3

What are agonists?

Answer 3

Drugs that facilitate the effects of a particular NT on the postsynaptic cell.

Question 4

What are the agonistic effects that drugs can have on synaptic transmission? (6)

Answer 4

1. Drug serves as precursor (creates more NT)
2. Drug stimulates release of NT
3. Drug blocks autoreceptors, inc synthesis / release if NT
4. Drug stimulates postsynaptic receptors
5. Drug blocks reuptake
6. Drug inactivates acetylcholinesterase (post synaptic neuron)

Question 5

What are antagonistic effects drugs can have?

Answer 5

Drug inactivates synthetic enzyme & inhibits synthesis of NT
Drug prevents storage of NT in vescicles
Drug stimulates autoreceptors, inhibits synthesis/release of NT
Drug inhibits release of NT
Drug blocks postsynaptic receptors

Question 6

Where are neurotransmitters stored?

Answer 6

Vescicles

Question 7

What are transporter molecules responsible for?

Answer 7

Reuptake of NT into terminal button

Question 8

How do antagonist drugs work on transporter molecules?

Answer 8

Drug binds with molecule and blocks NT from entering

Question 9

How do antagonistic drugs prevent release of NTs from terminal buttons?

Answer 9

Deactivate proteins that cause synaptic vesicles to fuse with presynaptic membrane

Question 10

How do agonistic drugs increase release of NTs from terminal buttons?

Answer 10

Bind with proteins , triggering release of NTs

Question 11

What is competitive binding?

Answer 11

Drug competes with neurotransmitter for binding site

Question 12

What is non competitive binding

Answer 12

Binding of a drug on a receptor doesn’t interfere w primary binding

Question 13

What is a direct agonist?

Answer 13

Drug that binds with and activates a receptor

Question 14

What is a direct antagonist?

Answer 14

Binds with a receptor but doesn’t activate it (also known as receptor blocker)

Question 15

How do antagonist drugs work on dendrites?

Answer 15

Activate dendrite autoreceptors, tf hyperpolarising the neuron and reducing its rate of firing.

Question 16

How is the postsynaptic potential terminated?

Answer 16

Reuptake of the NT or destruction by an enzyme

Question 17

How do drugs affect reuptake?

Answer 17

Attach to transporter molecules and block them from uptake

Question 18

How do drugs affect destruction of NT by enzymes?

Answer 18

Molecules of drug bind with enzyme and stop it working

Question 19

What is impact of NT transmitter molecules in synaptic cleft?

Answer 19

Stimulates autoreceptors

Question 20

Are the drugs that impact on NT reuptake or destruction agonist or antagonist?

Answer 20

Agonist

Question 21

What are the three catecholamines

Answer 21

Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine

Question 22

What is the Indolamine neurotransmitter?

Answer 22

Serotonin

Question 23

What is the ethylamine neurotransmitter?

Answer 23

Histamine

Question 24

What is acetylcholine?

Answer 24

Primary NT found in PNS

Question 25

What are the effects if acetylcholine in dorsolateral pons?

Answer 25

Facilitate REM sleep

Question 26

What are effects if acetylcholine in the basal forebrain?

Answer 26

Activating cerebral cortex and learning (esp perceptual)

Question 27

What are effects if acetylcholine in medial septum?

Answer 27

Electrical rhythms of hippocampus and formation of particular types if memories

Question 28

What are three systems (pathways) of dopaminergic neurons?

Answer 28

``` Nigrostriatal system (movement) Mesolimbic system (reinforcement) Mesocortical system (formation of short term memories, planning, problem solving) ```

Question 29

Describe the Mesolimbic pathway for dopamine?

Answer 29

Neurons are located in ventral tegmental area and project axons to limbic system, incl nucleus accumbens which plays role in reinforcing effects if stimuli

Question 30

Where are most of the cell bodies of noradrenergic (norepinephrine) neurons found?

Answer 30

Pons and medulla, thalamus

Question 31

What does activation of noradrenergic (norepinephrine) neurons in locus coerulus (dorsal pons) do?

Answer 31

Increase in vigilance

Question 32

What does seratonin affect?

Answer 32

Regulation of mood, control of eat, sleep and arousal, response to pain

Question 33

What type of PSPs does dopamine produce?

Answer 33

Both excitatory and inhibitory, depends on type of receptor

Question 34

What are increased levels of dopamine in nucleus accumbens caused by?

Answer 34

``` Drugs of abuse Natural reinforces (eg food if choice) ```

Question 35

What do dopamine receptor blockers do?

Answer 35

Interfere with reinforcement (antagonist)

Question 36

What are two methods by which amphetamines increase norepinephrine?

Answer 36

Block reuptake | Stimulate release of catecholamines

Question 37

What does Prozac do?

Answer 37

Blocks reuptake of seratonin (SSRI - seratonin specific reuptake inhibitor)