Synaptic communication

Question 1

neurotransmitters

Answer 1

Can be excitatory (i.e., increasing the possibility of causing an action potential in the post-synaptic neuron) or inhibitory (i.e., decreasing the probability of an action in the postsynaptic neuron)

Question 2

neurotransmitters (excitatory)

Answer 2

Excitatory (opens channels in post-synaptic membrane leading to increase in sodium in post-synaptic cell and decrease in potassium leading to depolarization of postsynaptic cell)

examples: norepinephrine, acetylcholine, glutamate

Question 3

neurotransmitters (inhibitory)

Answer 3

Inhibitory: encourage hyperpolarization (i.e., increasing Cl- flow into cell or increasing K+ efflux from cell) of post-synaptic cell, making it less likely to generate an action potential)

examples:dopamine, serotonin, GABA