Questions and Answers
What are neurotransmitters?
They are chemical messengers inside the body that carry messages between neurons.
How are neurotransmitters related to the axon terminal?
The neurotransmitters are kept in the axon terminal of a neuron until they are sent to another neuron.
What is the relationship between neurotransmitters and the synapse?
Neurons never touch each other, so to get to the other neuron, the neurotransmitter has to cross a small gap, which is the synapse.
What's an excitatory neurotransmitter?
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What's an inhibitory neurotransmitter?
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What is acetylcholine?
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What does norepinephrine affect?
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What is glutamate?
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What is dopamine?
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What does serotonin affect?
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What does GABA affect?
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What do endorphins affect?
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What is an agonist?
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What is an antagonist?
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Study Notes
Neurotransmitters Overview
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons, playing a critical role in communication within the nervous system.
- They are stored in the axon terminal of neurons until released to transmit messages to neighboring neurons.
Axon Terminal and Synapse
- The axon terminal releases neurotransmitters into the synapse, which is the small gap between neurons. This gap prevents direct contact between neurons.
Types of Neurotransmitters
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Excitatory Neurotransmitters: Stimulate brain activity by sending excitatory signals. Examples include:
- Acetylcholine: Influences muscle movement, learning, memory, and attention. Excess can lead to muscle spasms, while a deficit is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
- Norepinephrine: Governs arousal, alertness, and mood. High levels can cause anxiety; low levels are associated with depression and mental disorders.
- Glutamate: Crucial for learning and long-term memory. Too much can result in migraines or seizures; too little is linked to mental disorders.
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Inhibitory Neurotransmitters: Calm brain activity through inhibitory signals. Examples include:
- Dopamine: Regulates mood, emotion, and arousal. Excess can lead to schizophrenia and addiction, while insufficient levels contribute to Parkinson's disease.
- Serotonin: Affects mood, hunger, and sleep patterns. Too much can cause hallucinations, whereas too little is associated with depression and mood disorders.
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): Important for regulating the sleep/wake cycle. An excess can lead to sleep and eating disorders, while a deficit is linked to anxiety, epilepsy, and insomnia.
- Endorphins: Manage pain, stress response, and emotions. Overproduction can induce artificial highs and poor pain response; underproduction may lead to addiction, particularly to opiates.
Drug Interaction with Neurotransmitters
- Agonists: Drugs that enhance the effect of neurotransmitters, increasing their activity.
- Antagonists: Drugs that reduce the effect of neurotransmitters, decreasing their activity.
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Description
Test your knowledge of neurotransmitters with this AP Psychology flashcard quiz. Explore the roles of neurotransmitters in neurons, their storage in axon terminals, and their function at synapses. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their understanding of the biological basis of psychology.
