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Physiological Psychology (PSYCH5079) > WEEK 3: CELLULAR COMMUNICATION > Flashcards

WEEK 3: CELLULAR COMMUNICATION Flashcards

1
Q

How many synapses are there at the end of each neuron?

A

Between 1 and many thousand!

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2
Q

Draw a synapse.

A
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3
Q

Receptor site (2)

A

–What neurotransmitters bind to
–Each one only binds with a specific neurotransmitter

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4
Q

What kinds of receptor sites are there in each post-synaptic terminal? (3)

A

–It depends!
–Each one only contains certain kinds of receptor sites
–Will only accept signals from neurotransmitters it has receptor sites for

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5
Q

Name two functions that mitochondrion power in the synapse?

A

–Transporting components from cell body to synapse
–Powering the breakdown of neurotransmitters

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6
Q

Synaptic vesicle (3)

A

–Create neurotransmitters
–Carry them from the neuron to the presynaptic terminal
–Release them into the synaptic cleft

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7
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

Small gap between pre- and post-synaptic terminals

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8
Q

How big is a synaptic cleft?

A

~20 nanometres

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9
Q

What are the two methods of communication between synapses?

A

Electrical
Chemical

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10
Q

What are neurotransmitters released by?

A

Vesicles

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11
Q

In chemical communication, what do neurotransmitters travel across to get to the postsynaptic terminal?

A

Synaptic cleft

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12
Q

What do neurotransmitters bind to in the postsynaptic terminal?

A

Postsynaptic receptors

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13
Q

What happens when neurotransmitters bind to the postsynaptic receptors?

A

Influx of ions in postsynaptic membrane

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14
Q

What does an influx of ions into post-synaptic membrane cause? (2)

A

–Depolarization
–If it reaches the threshold, action potential

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15
Q

In electrical communication, how is a message passed from one neuron to another? (3)

A

–Gap junction channel
–Ions flow directly through
–No neurotransmitter release

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16
Q

Which is quicker, electrical or chemical communication?

A

Electrical

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17
Q

Draw electrical communication

A
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18
Q

Draw chemical communication

A
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19
Q

What two kinds of receptors does chemical communication happen in?

A

–Ionotropic
–Metabotropic

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20
Q

How does chemical communication happen through inotropic receptors? (4)

A

–Neurotransmitter travels across synaptic cleft
–Binds to ionotropic receptor
–Ion channel opens
–Ions pass through into postsynaptic membrane

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21
Q

How does chemical communication happen through metabotropic receptors? (3)

A

–Neurotransmitter travels across synaptic cleft
–Binds to metabotropic receptor
–Affects interaction between receptor and G-protein

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22
Q

Give two examples of effects of the interaction between a receptor and G-protein?

A

–Neuron fires
–Protein synthesis

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23
Q

Draw the process of a neuron being caused to fire via a metabotropic receptor

A
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24
Q

Draw the process of protein synthesis being caused via a metabotropic receptor

A
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25
What are the 3 ways neurotransmitters can be removed?
1. Diffusion 2. Degradation 3. Reuptake
26
Neurotransmitter diffusion (2)
1. Into extracellular fluid 2. Absorbed by glial cells (cell bodies)
27
Degradation (2)
1. Enzymes break down neurotransmitters into smaller components 2. Components are transported back to presynaptic terminal
28
Reuptake (3a/b)
1. Neurotransmitters are removed from the cleft whole by transport channels 2. Put back in presynaptic terminal Either 3a. Repackaged directly into vesicles or 3b. Broken down by enzymes into components
29
What 3 things does serotonin seem to play a role in regulating?
–Mood –Sleep –Appetite
30
Serotonin dysfunction is associated with which 4 effects?
–Depression –Anxiety –Memory loss –Executive dysfunction
31
What area of the brain, inside the brain stem, is one of the main places serotonin originates from?
Raphe nuclei
32
What are the 2 main groups of serotonin?
–Rostral –Caudal
33
What are the 2 dopamine pathways?
–Nigro-striatal –Mesocorticolimbic
34
Where does the mesocorticolimbic pathway go? (2)
–Frontal lobes –Subcortical regions
35
Where does the mesocorticolimbic pathway originate?
Ventral segmental area
36
What are the two components of the mesocorticolimbic pathway?
1. Mesocortical 2. Mesolimbic
37
What does the mesocortical dopamine pathway regulate? (2)
Depends !
38
What does the mesolimbic dopamine pathway regulate?
–Emotional states –Motivation
39
Where does the nigro-striatal pathway originate?
Substantia nigra
40
Where does the nigro-striatal pathway go to?
Striatum
41
What does the nigro-striatal pathway regulate? (2)
–Involuntary movement –Motor skills
42
What issue is the mesolimbic pathway associated with?
Addiction
43
Where does norepinephrine originate?
Locus coeruleus
44
What's another word for norepinephrine?
Adrenaline
45
Norepinephrine dysfunction is associated with which 4 issues?
–Depression –Anxiety –Fight-or-fight –ADHD
46
What 2 processes does norepinephrine regulate?
–Wakefulness –Sympathetic nervous system
47
What 2 places does acetylcholine originate?
–Medial septal nuclei –Basal nucleus of Meynert
48
What 4 things does acetylcholine regulate?
–Memory –Attention –Sensory information –Muscle contractions
49
What drug makes muscles contract by affecting acetylcholine?
Botox
50
A lot of acetylcholine pathways pass through which brain region, which is associated with memory?
Hippocampus
51
How many subtypes of dopamine receptor are there?
At least 7!
52
How many subtypes of serotonin receptor are there?
At least 5!
53
Which type of acetylcholine receptor does nicotine bind to?
Nicotinic
54
How do nerve agents work? (4)
–Target enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine –Acetylcholine constantly triggers neurons –Involuntary muscle contractions –Overstimulation –> desensitisation
55
What are two, oft-ignored, early symptoms of Parkinson's disease?
Tremors in fingers or hands
56
What pathway becomes degenerated in Parkinson's disease?
Nigrostriatal
57
Where in the brain is there a loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease? (2)
–Substantia nigra –Basal ganglia
58
What 3 neurotransmitters are affected by Parkinson's?
–Dopamine Also: –Serotonin –Acetylcholine
59
What's an intriguing side-effect of Parkinson's medications like Levodopa?
Psychosis
60
What's an intriguing side-effects of antipsychotics?
Parkinson's-like symptoms

Physiological Psychology (PSYCH5079) (4 decks)

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