Neurotransmitters and Synaptic Potential Lecture Quiz

• Dr. Mohamed Talal led a medicine program lecture on October 26, 2022, about neurotransmitters.
• A synapse is formed where the axon of a presynaptic neuron meets the axon of a postsynaptic neuron.
• Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that facilitate the transmission of electrical signals between neurons.
• Small-molecule transmitters include amino acids, such as glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and monoamines, like norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
• Large-molecule transmitters include peptides, such as enkephalin.

Glutamate:

• Glutamate is the major neurotransmitter in the brain.
• It is an excitatory neurotransmitter.
• Glutamate receptors include AMPA and NMDA receptors.
• Glutamate is involved in memory and learning processes.
• Clinical application: Lamotrigine, a drug that inhibits glutamate release, is used to treat epilepsy.

GABA:

• GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
• It has two main types of receptors: GABAA and GABAB.
• GABA is involved in the regulation of sleep.
• Clinical application: Diazepam, a drug that acts on GABAA receptors, is used as an anticonvulsant.

Dopamine:

• Dopamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter.
• It is primarily located in the basal ganglia and limbic system.
• Dopamine receptors include D1 and D2 receptors.
• Dopamine is involved in the regulation of behavior.
• Clinical application: Overstimulation of D2 receptors can lead to schizophrenia and hallucinations. Clozapine, an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, acts on D2 receptors.

Serotonin:

• Serotonin is an excitatory neurotransmitter.
• It is primarily located in the limbic system.
• There are seven classes of serotonin receptors.
• Serotonin is involved in the regulation of emotions.
• Clinical application: Major depression, characterized by feelings of sadness, early-morning awakenings, decreased appetite, restlessness, and anhedonia, is a condition that can be treated with drugs that act on serotonin receptors.

Test your knowledge about neurotransmitters and synaptic potential in this lecture quiz. Topics include presynaptic potential, action potential, postsynaptic potential, different types of neurotransmitters, and the chemistry of neurotransmitters.