Neurotransmission Psych 11 Kabotoff

What are neurotransmitters? chemicals which transport information across the synaptic cleft between neurons

What kinds of signals are sent? They send many different types of messages: signal to relax a muscle - chemical reward for engaging in a particular task

Eight key NT systems Serotonin Dopamine GABA Glutamate Opiate Noradrenaline Endocannabinoid Acetylcholine

Serotonin Sleep, arousal levels, emotion Higher levels of serotonin activate hypothalamus and frontal cortex 1999 Buddhist monks dep f n w, cold temp, 48hrs=hallucinations Too low=sleep or eating disorders, depression Too high =OCD

Acetylcholine Linked to creating memory (stim hippocampus) and muscle contraction Affected in Alzheimer’s patients Too low = paralysis

Dopamine Voluntary movement, learning, feelings of pleasure Tied to depression and vital to chemical dependency treatment Black out or binge drinkers seek the feeling of numbness when they use alcohol in excess Too much=psychotic, hallucinations Too little=clinically depressed

GABA Calms things down, too low=seizures Counteracts glutamate and other stimulant neurotransmitters Genetic predisposition – people who talk fast, worry, get fired up etc have a LOT of this .. Huntington’s disease decreases this, causes tremors, personality changes

Norepinephrine Mood, alertness, quick response (sex, eating, thirst) Too high=high blood pressure, nervous, anxiety Too low=lethargy, lack of motivation, depression

Opiate system Creates euphoric feeling i.e. endorphins Is addictive Prescription: Morphine, Vicodin, OxyContin, Dilaudid, Demerol, Codeine But can also cause pain if taken over a long period of time

Where are neurotransmitters made? Chemicals are produced in the body of the neuron Travel along the axon and hang out in vesicles

How are the messages passed? When the neuron receives the right impulse (action potential) , a vesicle bursts releasing neurotransmitters across the synapse to receptor sites on dendrites of a neighbouring neuron

Other fun facts Neurotransmitters are the most important molecule in nearly every living thing Can be excitatory or inhibitors Some Factors affecting the release of neurotransmitters: genetics eating habits exposure to chemical substances stress

What genetics? Research one of the following neurological disorders-conditions for:symptoms, how they affect or are affected by the process of neurotransmission, genetics: Huntington’s Disease Alzheimer’s OCD ALS MS Migraines Autism Spectrum Disorder Asperger’s Syndrome ADHD-ADD Schizophrenia Epilepsy Parkinson’s Disease

Criteria for your Mind Map- Poster: Must clearly present: Name, brain scan images /2 Symptoms /4 Impact on CNS-PNS.. /4 Genetic Indicators /3 Must Identify Sources (3+) /2

Dietary Considerations Lack of protein in the diet, results in an absence in the amino acids needed to produce neurotransmitters for later release diets low in omega-3 and other fatty acids Synthetic chemicals also affect the release of neurotransmitters, either intentionally or unintentionally (drugs vs chem weapons)