Neurotransmitters in the Nervous System
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Questions and Answers

Which neurotransmitter is involved in learning, memory, and motor control?

  • Norepinephrine
  • Acetylcholine (correct)
  • Glutamate
  • Dopamine

    • What is the primary function of GABA?

  • To regulate sleep and wakefulness
  • To induce anxiety and insomnia
  • To maintain brain function balance (correct)
  • To excite cells to death

    • What is the effect of excess glutamate transmission?

  • Induces anxiety and insomnia
  • Regulates sleep and wakefulness
  • Enhances learning and memory
  • Excitotoxicity, leading to cell death (correct)

    • Which neurotransmitter is involved in pleasure, addiction, and motor dysfunction?

    <p>Dopamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of serotonin in the brain?

    <p>Similar to dopamine and norepinephrine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurotransmitter is active during wakefulness and decreased during sleep?

    <p>Histamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of unchecked acetylcholine on Parkinson's disease symptoms?

    <p>Reduces/stops symptoms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of norepinephrine in the brain?

    <p>Influences arousal, mood, and motivation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of tryptophan in the brain?

    <p>It inhibits aggressive behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of non-selective histamine antagonists like diphenhydramine?

    <p>They cause sleepiness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of norepinephrine in descending pain modulation?

    <p>It decreases pain to the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical progression of Myasthenia Gravis?

    <p>It begins with facial muscles and can result in dysphagia, impaired speech, and impaired gait</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of a lower motor neuron lesion?

    <p>Weakness or complete inability to move, muscle atrophy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of an injury to the cerebellum?

    <p>Dysmetria and dysdiadochokinesia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of endogenous opioids on pain?

    <p>They increase pain sensitivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of an upper motor neuron lesion?

    <p>Increased spasticity and hyperreflexia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Neurotransmitters

    • Glutamate and GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) are neurotransmitters that maintain brain function balance
    • Glutamate is excitatory and found in all cells and tissues, while GABA is inhibitory
    • Excess glutamate can lead to excitotoxicity, causing cell death
    • Glutamate and GABA transmission can be mediated by ionotropic and metabotropic receptors

    Glutamate

    • Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter
    • Glutamate excitotoxicity can occur due to excess glutamate, leading to cell death
    • States of hypoxia and ischemia (stroke and TBI) can enhance glutamate's excitatory effects

    GABA

    • GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter
    • GABA-A receptors are ionotropic, while GABA-B receptors are metabotropic
    • GABA transmission is involved in anxiety, insomnia, and muscle relaxation
    • GABA transmission can be enhanced by drugs to treat anxiety and insomnia

    Acetylcholine

    • Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and motor control
    • Acetylcholine is a primary rapid transmitter in the brain
    • Acetylcholine receptors can be ionotropic (fast) or metabotropic (slow)
    • Combined with dopamine, acetylcholine controls motor function, specifically smooth motor function (e.g., handwriting)

    Dopamine

    • Dopamine is involved in pleasure, addiction, and motor dysfunction
    • Dopamine receptors are metabotropic (slow)
    • Deterioration of dopamine leads to motor dysfunction and is associated with Parkinson's disease
    • Dopamine is involved in motivation, arousal, and reward processing

    Norepinephrine (NE)

    • Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter involved in attention, arousal, and motivation
    • Norepinephrine receptors are metabotropic (slow)
    • Suppression of norepinephrine can lead to sedation (e.g., clonidine)
    • Norepinephrine is involved in modulation of pain perception

    Serotonin (5-HT)

    • Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, appetite, and sleep
    • Serotonin receptors are metabotropic (with one exception: 5-HT3)
    • Increased serotonin levels in the brain can treat depression and anxiety
    • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase serotonin levels in the brain

    Histamine

    • Histamine is a neurotransmitter involved in arousal, motivation, and modulation of pain
    • Histamine receptors are metabotropic
    • Histamine is active during wakefulness and decreased during sleep
    • Non-selective histamine antagonists (e.g., diphenhydramine) can cause sleepiness

    Peptides

    • Peptides are neurotransmitters involved in modulation of behavior states
    • Peptides interact across the CNS and PNS
    • Peptides are metabotropic

    Pain Modulation

    • Descending pain modulation involves the use of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin
    • Norepinephrine and serotonin can decrease pain perception
    • Glutamate can ascend pain signals to the spinal cord, leading to rapid action to stop painful stimuli
    • Pain sensitization can occur due to inflammation, leading to hyperalgesia and allodynia

    Myasthenia Gravis

    • Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks acetylcholine receptors
    • The disorder leads to muscle weakness and fatigue, often beginning with facial muscles
    • Symptoms can progress to dysphagia, impaired speech, and impaired gait

    Lower and Upper Motor Neuron Lesions

    • Lower motor neuron lesions affect the brainstem and spinal cord, leading to weakness, muscle atrophy, and hyporeflexia
    • Upper motor neuron lesions affect the motor cortex, leading to increased spasticity, hyperreflexia, and weakness

    Dysmetria and Dysdiadochokinesia

    • Dysmetria is a movement disorder characterized by fluctuations in movement amplitude
    • Dysdiadochokinesia is a movement disorder characterized by an inability to conduct rapid alternating movements
    • Both disorders are associated with cerebellar dysfunction, which can result from injury, stroke, tumors, or congenital conditions

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    Learn about the role of glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine in the nervous system and how they affect brain function and behavior.

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