U3 AOS1 Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators

Question 1

Neuron

Answer 1

an individual
nerve cell that
is specialised to
receive, process
and/or transmit
information
within the
nervous system

Question 2

Neural
transmission

Answer 2

an electrical
impulse that
occurs when
a neuron is
activated or fires

Question 3

Neurotransmitter

Answer 3

a chemical
produced
by neurons
that carries
messages to
other neurons or
cells within the
nervous system,
including
muscles, organs
and glands

Question 4

Synapse

Answer 4

the point of
communication
between two
neurons or
between a
neuron and a
target cell such
as a muscle
or gland

Question 5

Synaptic vesicle

Answer 5

a membranebound sphere
filled with
neurotransmitter
molecules

Question 6

Synaptic gap

Answer 6

the space
between the
axon terminal of
the presynaptic
neuron and the
membrane of the
post-synaptic
neuron

Question 7

Receptor site

Answer 7

a membrane
protein on the
dendrites of
neurons that
receive and
detect specific
neurotransmitters

Question 8

Excitatory effect

Answer 8

the increased
likelihood that
the post-synaptic
neuron will
fire an action
potential or
neural impulse

Question 9

Glutamate

Answer 9

the main
excitatory
neurotransmitter
in the nervous
system, which
is involved with
learning and
memory

Question 10

Inhibitory effect

Answer 10

the decreased
likelihood that
the post-synaptic
neuron will
fire an action
potential or
neural impulse

Question 11

Gammaaminobutyric
acid (GABA)

Answer 11

the main
inhibitory
neurotransmitter
in the nervous
system,
associated with
anxiety, specific
phobias and
Parkinson’s
disease

Question 12

Dopamine

Answer 12

a multifunctional
neurotransmitter
with both
excitatory
and inhibitory
effects, that
is involved in
many central
nervous system
functions such
as movement,
pleasure,
attention, mood,
cognition and
motivation

Question 13

Neuromodulator

Answer 13

a subclass of
neurotransmitters
that alter
the strength
of neural
transmission,
by increasing or
decreasing the
responsiveness
of neurons to
neurotransmitter
signals

Question 14

Reward pathway

Answer 14

a group of
structures in
the brain that
are activated
by rewarding
or reinforcing
stimuli

Question 15

Serotonin

Answer 15

an inhibitory
neurotransmitter
that also
acts as a
neuromodulator,
influencing a
variety of brain
activities

Question 16

Serotonin
pathway

Answer 16

serotonin’s
neuromodulatory
system, which
originates in
the brainstem
and extends to
almost all areas
of the cerebrum
including the
cerebral cortex