Types of Neurotransmitters Flashcards
Acetylcholine (ACh) functions
voluntary motor control, attention, memory, learning, dreaming
Acetylcholine (ACh) related disorders
Alzheimer’s (deterioration in ACh-producing neurons)
Dopamine (DA) functions
motor behavior, motivation, reward processing, pleasure, emotion, drug addiction
List three monoamines
dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin
Dopamine related disorders
drug addiction, schizophrenia (too much), Parkinson’s (too little), mood disorders
Glutamate function
major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, “master key” chemical involved in over 90% of neural transmissions; learning and memory, sleep/wake
Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) function
major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain (“calming effect”), controls neuronal hyperactivity associated with anxiety, stress, fear
GABA related disorder
seizures (low), anxiety
Norepinephrine (NE) production site
CNS, adrenal gland
Norepinephrine functions
mood, arousal, fight-or-flight response
Serotonin (5-HT) functions
sleep regulation (arousal), wakefulness, mood, eating, aggression
Serotonin related disorder
Mood problems (low) ie. eating disorders, OCD
Norepinephrine related disorder
mood problems (low) ie. depression
Endorphins (endogenous opioid neuropeptides) produced in…
CNS, pituitary gland
Endorphins functions
dampen pain, elevate mood (“runner’s high”)
