EQ: How do neurotransmitters influence me?

 Write an analogy for a neuron/action potential  EX: Fist (neuron), fingers (dendrites), and arm (axon) Bell ringer

 h/nova/body/mirror- neurons.html Mirror Neuron Video

Major Neurotransmitters

Do you sometimes feel like this?

And sometimes like this?? Why?

 Regulates mood, emotion, anxiety, arousal, sleep, hunger Serotonin

Some “Club Drugs” such as ecstasy affect mood….why?

 Drugs flood brain with serotonin so people feel a high but when they wear off the brain is deprived of serotonin which can cause depression

Dopamine: What do you think it influences??

 Plays important role in how we experience rewards from a variety of natural sources- food, sex, and drugs. Can impact addiction. Also influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Dopamine

Who likes to play sports? Dance?

Acetylcholine What does it enable?  Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

 Botox affects Ach? How do you think it works? Who wants Botox?

 Botulin is a poison which causes paralysis by blocking Ach release from the sending neuron  Botox smooths wrinkles by paralyzing the underlying facial muscles

How does the venom of a black widow affect Ach? (effects: vomiting, seizures)

 Venom causes a flood of Ach which causes muscle contractions, convulsions, and possible death

 Helps prevent the body from being too excited and induce a more relaxed or calm state.  If you have low levels of Gaba you may feel anxiety, experience panic attacks, experience mood swings, insomnia, seizures. GABA

 Have you ever been severely hurt but not felt the pain right away?  Possible started laughing instead of crying from pain? Endorphins

 Natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and experience of pleasure. Released in response to pain and vigorous exercise.  Endorphins

 This is simply adrenaline. Affects metabolism, mental focus, attention and awareness Epinephrine