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Neurotransmitters (AP Psychology) Flashcards

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13523549680acetylcholine (ACh)Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. It Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some of its receptors are stimulated by nicotine Deficiency - Alzheimer's Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle movement0
13523549681dopamine (DA)Voluntary movement -Alertness - Attention -Rewards -Emotion Excess - Schizophrenia Deficiency - Parkinson's Disease1
13523549682norepinephrine (NE)-"Fight or flight" response: elevates heart rate, circulation, respiration; slows digestion -Controls alertness, arousal -Mood elevation Deficiency - Depression, ADHD Excess - Anxiety, High blood pressure2
13523549683serotonin-Mood regulation -Hunger/Appetite --Arousal Deficiency - Depression Excess - Anxiety, OCD, Insomnia, eating disorders3
13523549684GABABrain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter Deficiency - Seizures, Insomnia4
13523549685glutamateBrain's main (agonist) excitatory neurotransmitter -Creates links between neurons that form basis of learning, long-term memory. Excess - Multiple sclerosis Excess - Seizures & Migraines (Avoid foods with MSG - monosodium glutamate; overstimulate brain)5
13523549692endorphins-Pain control & relief - Stress reduction -Feelings of pleasure -Natural opiates Deficiency - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction Morphine is an agonist for endorphins6
13523549686acetylcholineNeurotransmitter associated with Alzheimer's7
13523549687dopamineexcess = Schizophrenia8
13523554904dopaminedeficiency = tremors and Parkinson's - loss of motor control9
13523549688serotoninDeficiency - Depression (Treated with SSRI's - selective ______________ reuptake inhibitors; prevent NT from being reabsorbed in uptake, leaving more in synapses)10
13523621313serotoninExcess - Anxiety, OCD, Insomnia, eating disorders11
13523549689norepinephrine (noradrenaline)deficiency can depress mood and affect ADHD12
13523704886norepinephrine (noradrenaline)Excess - Anxiety, High blood pressure13
13523549690GABAdeficiency = Seizures, tremors, insomnia14
13523549691glutamateexcess can overstimulate brain, migraines or seizures, and impact multiple sclerosis15
13523549693endorphinsdeficiency - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction16
13523549694endorphinsexcess can lead to insensitivity to pain/little pain17
13523715633agonistA chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.18
13523718057antagonistA chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter19
13523721883excitatory neurotransmitterschemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that excite the next neuron into firing, cause depolarization20
13523732777inhibitory neurotransmittersinhibit the next cell from firing21
13523737052presynaptic neuronthe neuron that sends a signal across the synaptic cleft22
13523745340postsynaptic neuronthe neuron on the receiving end of the synapse23
13523758890action potentiala neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon - all-or-none law (fires or doesn't fire and always same strength)24
13523761252post-synaptic potentiala voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane - graded (an equation between excitatory and inhibitory PSPs)25
13523795534all-or-none lawprinciple that the action potential in a neuron does not vary in strength; the neuron either fires at full strength or it does not fire at all26
13523798983resting potentialThe difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane, -70mv27
13523805693sodium-potassium pumpa carrier protein that uses ATP to actively transport sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ions into the cell (causing an action potential)28

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