Neurotransmitters Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is dopamine?

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention, learning, and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

What role does serotonin play in the body?

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood.

What is acetylcholine responsible for?

Enabling learning and memory and triggering muscle contraction.

What were the findings of Crockett et al (2010)?

Increasing serotonin with citalopram resulted in reduced rejection rates of unfair offers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimatum game?

A game where a proposer offers how a sum of money should be split, and the responder decides to accept or reject the offer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the prefrontal cortex?

The frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, important for attention, working memory, decision making, and personality. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the anterior cingulate cortex?

Involved in the emotional reaction to painful stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

What did carhart-harris et al find about LSD?

LSD has a high affinity for different neurotransmitter receptors and its effects are mediated by the serotonin 2A receptor. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to conceptually triangulate?

An issue of research is considered from at least two points. Signup and view all the answers

What is Utilitarian Ethics?

Does the action optimize the common good or benefits of all constituencies? Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neurotransmitters

Dopamine: Involved in movement, attention, learning, and the brain's pleasure and reward systems.
Serotonin: Influences hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood regulation.
Acetylcholine: Critical for learning and memory; also initiates muscle contraction.

Research Studies

Crockett et al. (2010): Study showed that elevating serotonin levels with citalopram led to a decrease in rejection of unfair financial offers (27-39% of total money), indicating increased acceptance of unfair proposals in subjects.
Carhart-Harris et al.: Research indicates that LSD interacts with various neurotransmitter receptors, primarily affecting serotonin 2A receptors, leading to its psychological effects.

Concepts

Ultimatum Game: A decision-making scenario where a proposer divides a sum of money with a responder, who can either accept or reject the offer; used to study fairness and negotiation strategies.
Conceptually Triangulate: In research, it involves examining an issue from at least two distinct perspectives or points of view.

Brain Regions

Prefrontal Cortex: Located at the frontmost part of the frontal lobes; essential for attention, working memory, decision-making, social behavior, and personality traits.
Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Part of the anterior cingulate gyrus; important for the emotional response to pain.

Ethics

Utilitarian Ethics: Evaluates actions based on their ability to maximize benefits for the greatest number of people, considering all relevant stakeholders.

Description

This quiz provides flashcards on key neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. Each card includes definitions that illustrate their roles in the brain and body. Perfect for students studying psychology or neuroscience.