Section 1

Question 1

What are the characteristics of the neurotransmitter glutamate?

Answer 1

Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and is found in almost all neurons.
Glutamate acts on a family of receptors called the glutamatergic receptors. Glutamatergic neurons are
important for learning.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of the Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)?

Answer 2

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. GABAergic neurons and receptors are found in high concentrations in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and
cerebellum. A number of CNS depressants (e.g. benzodiazepines) enhance GABA receptor function.

Question 3

What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Answer 3

Glutamate

Question 4

Glutamatergic neurons are important for what?

Answer 4

Learning

Question 5

What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Answer 5

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

Question 6

Where are GABAergic neurons and receptors found in high concentrations?

Answer 6

Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum.

Question 7

Does acetylcholine produce an excitatory or inhibitory response in the CNS?

Answer 7

Excitatory

Question 8

How are receptors that bind acetylcholine termed?

Answer 8

Cholinergic receptors

Question 9

What are the two types of cholinergic receptors?

Answer 9

Nicotinic receptors and Muscarinic receptors

Question 10

Nicotinic and Muscarinic receptors are what type of receptors?

Answer 10

Cholinergic receptors

Question 11

Nicotinic receptors can be stimulated by…

Answer 11

Acetylcholine or nicotine

Question 12

Muscarinic receptors are involved with what?

Answer 12

Learning, memory, and cognitive function

Question 13

Muscarinic receptors can be stimulated by…

Answer 13

Acetylcholine or muscarine

Question 14

Drugs that block the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors produce what?

Answer 14

Amnesia

Question 15

Loss of cholinergic neurons with muscarinic receptors is thought to be associated with what?

Answer 15

Alzheimer’s Disease.

Question 16

What are two catecholamines similar in structure?

Answer 16

Dopamine and Norepinephrine.

Question 17

Dopaminergic pathways are involved in control of what?

Answer 17

Some hormonal systems, motor coordination, and motivation and reward.

Question 18

Disturbances in the dopaminergic pathways are associated with what diseases?

Answer 18

Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.

Question 19

What are the two main classes of receptors norepinephrine can bind to?

Answer 19

Alpha and beta.

Question 20

Activation of alpha and beta receptors usually leads to what?

Answer 20

Excitation of the cell.

Question 21

In the CNS, hyperactivity of the serotonergic system is involved with what?

Answer 21

Anxiety

Question 22

In the CNS, hypo-activity of the serotonergic system has been implicated in…

Answer 22

Depression

Question 23

What are the 3 main classes of endogenous opioid peptides?

Answer 23

Enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins. They have varying degrees of selectivity for the three opioid receptors.

Question 24

What are the three opioid receptors?

Answer 24

mu, delta, and kappa. All opiates interact with these receptors.

Question 25

The nervous system is specialized too… (basic functions of the nervous system)

Answer 25

Recognize, process, integrate, and react to stimuli in the environment