Week 4 (Neurotransmitters) Flashcards
Receptor Types
Ionotropic (ligand-activated)- ion channels; membrane-spanning ion channel proteins that open directly in response to ligand binding
Metabotropic receptors- activate second messenger systems (hormones); peptide neurotransmitters
Inhibitory
These neurotransmitters make the target neuron less likely to fire an action potential (GABA is the most common)
Excitatory
These neurotransmitters make target neurons more likely to fire an action potential (glutamate is most common)
Agonist
propogates signal
Antagonist
blocks signal
Acetylcholine (cholinergic)
Links motor neurons to muscles, plays an important role in attention, memory and sleep; found in many parts of the brain; excitatory at neuromuscular junction, inhibitory in the heart
Dopamine
A type of monoamine: catecholamine; related to motivation and reward, modulates movement, activation of circuits in prefrontal cortex, attention, learning; dopaminergic; Many mental disorders and parkinsons
Norepinephrine
A type of monoamine: catecholamine; related to cognitive functioning to increase arousal, vigilance, and influences the reward system; influences sleep and the sympathetic nervous system (rel: meth)
Epinephrine
A type of monoamine: catecholamine; generally a hormone, prepares the body for action and diminishes other bodily processes that aren’t needed in stressful situation; “adrenaline”
Serotonin
A type of monoamine; plays a role in transmission of neurochemicals, sleep, eating, arousal, pain, switches affecting various mood-states- regulation of mood
Glutamate
An amino acid; major excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS, primarily in hippocampus and amygdala, important in learning
GABA
An amino acid; inhibitory in CNS, most important in mediating synaptic inhibition; decreases activity, lowers arousal
