Neurotransmitters and Brain Regions

Neurotransmitters

• Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons
• Released by the terminal end of the neuron into the synapse
• Bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic neuron
• Examples:
  • Acetylcholine (ACh): involved in muscle contraction and memory formation
  • Dopamine: involved in motivation, reward, and movement
  • Serotonin: involved in mood regulation and appetite
  • Norepinephrine: involved in attention and arousal

Brain Regions

• Cerebrum: divided into two hemispheres (left and right), responsible for processing sensory information, controlling movement, and facilitating thought and emotion
• Cerebellum: involved in motor coordination, balance, and learning
• Brainstem: connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord, regulates basic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure
• Frontal lobe: involved in executive function, decision-making, and motor control
• Parietal lobe: involved in processing sensory information related to touch and spatial awareness
• Temporal lobe: involved in processing auditory information and memory
• Occipital lobe: involved in processing visual information

Neuron Structure

• Dendrites: branching extensions of the neuron that receive signals from other neurons
• Cell body: contains the nucleus and the majority of the neuron's organelles
• Axon: long, slender extension of the neuron that carries signals away from the cell body
• Myelin sheath: fatty insulation that surrounds the axon, increasing the speed of signal transmission
• Terminal buttons: endings of the axon that release neurotransmitters into the synapse

Synaptic Transmission

• Excitatory transmission: when a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor, causing an increase in the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing
• Inhibitory transmission: when a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor, causing a decrease in the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing
• Synaptic plasticity: the ability of the synapse to change in strength based on experience and learning
• Long-term potentiation (LTP): a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength, involved in learning and memory
• Long-term depression (LTD): a long-lasting decrease in synaptic strength, involved in forgetting and learning

Spinal Cord Function

• Sensory processing: the spinal cord receives and processes sensory information from the body
• Motor control: the spinal cord transmits motor signals from the brain to the muscles
• Reflexes: automatic responses to stimuli, such as withdrawing a hand from a hot surface
• Segmental organization: the spinal cord is divided into segments, each responsible for a specific region of the body
• Ascending and descending tracts: pathways that transmit information up and down the spinal cord, connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system

Neurotransmitters

• Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons
• Released by the terminal end of the neuron into the synapse
• Bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic neuron
• Examples:
  • Acetylcholine (ACh): muscle contraction and memory formation
  • Dopamine: motivation, reward, and movement
  • Serotonin: mood regulation and appetite
  • Norepinephrine: attention and arousal

Brain Regions

• Cerebrum: processes sensory information, controls movement, and facilitates thought and emotion
• Cerebellum: motor coordination, balance, and learning
• Brainstem: regulates basic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure
• Frontal lobe: executive function, decision-making, and motor control
• Parietal lobe: processing sensory information related to touch and spatial awareness
• Temporal lobe: processing auditory information and memory
• Occipital lobe: processing visual information

Neuron Structure

• Dendrites: receive signals from other neurons
• Cell body: contains the nucleus and majority of organelles
• Axon: carries signals away from the cell body
• Myelin sheath: fatty insulation that increases signal transmission speed
• Terminal buttons: release neurotransmitters into the synapse

Synaptic Transmission

• Excitatory transmission: increases likelihood of postsynaptic neuron firing
• Inhibitory transmission: decreases likelihood of postsynaptic neuron firing
• Synaptic plasticity: ability of synapse to change in strength based on experience and learning
• Long-term potentiation (LTP): long-lasting increase in synaptic strength, involved in learning and memory
• Long-term depression (LTD): long-lasting decrease in synaptic strength, involved in forgetting and learning

Spinal Cord Function

• Sensory processing: receives and processes sensory information from the body
• Motor control: transmits motor signals from the brain to the muscles
• Reflexes: automatic responses to stimuli
• Segmental organization: divided into segments, each responsible for a specific region of the body
• Ascending and descending tracts: pathways that transmit information up and down the spinal cord

Explore the role of chemical messengers in transmitting signals between neurons and the different brain regions involved in various functions.