Neurotransmitters and Mental Health

Neurotransmitters and Neurotransmitter Dysfunction

• Depression is caused by reduced levels of monoamines, particularly in the amygdala.
• Common treatments for depression include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
• The main cause of depression is a reduction in serotonin and norepinephrine levels.
• Second generation antidepressants focus on increasing levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly used antidepressants.
• SNRIs are more selective and have fewer side effects compared to first generation antidepressants.
• First generation antipsychotics have undesirable side effects, while second generation antipsychotics focus on serotonin and dopamine.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of monoamines, while tricyclic antidepressants block the reuptake of monoamines.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors only prevent the reuptake of serotonin, while SNRIs prevent the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
• Neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons can lead to Parkinson's-like symptoms, but dopamine itself is not a major problem in depression.
• The lecture covered neurons firing in a way that mimics reward prediction error, and studies using fMRI in humans showed similar results.
• The role of the medial prefrontal cortex is to regulate the expression of learned behavior after extinction and facilitate the retrieval of excitatory or inhibitory associations.

Title: Neurotransmitters and Dysfunction

• Neurotransmitters are chemicals made and stored in presynaptic cells that are released in response to an action potential and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
• Examples of neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.
• There are different types of neurotransmitters, including amino acids, monoamines, peptides, and others.
• Dysfunctions in neurotransmitter systems can result from genetic, environmental, or developmental factors.
• Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine dysfunction, while depression is associated with serotonin and norepinephrine dysfunction.
• Antipsychotic medications target dopamine receptors, while antidepressant medications increase serotonin and norepinephrine availability.
• Treatment for neurotransmitter system dysfunctions can involve medications, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet.
• Peptide neurotransmitters are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the nucleus, while monoamine neurotransmitters are made from precursor molecules and packaged into vesicles.
• Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter, while GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter.
• Dopamine is important for short-term memory, reward, and movement, while serotonin is important for cognition, emotion, and reward.
• Neurotransmitters can be inactivated or metabolized to regulate their biological effect.
• Interneurons play a