 What are converging neural pathways and their involvement in light sensitivity?  What are diverging neural pathways and their involvement in fine motor control?  What are reverberating pathways and their function?  What is the plasticity response and its importance in the nervous system? What do I remember?

Higher Human Biology Neurotransmitters mood and behaviour Part 1

Any questions from what you read  What are endorphins?  Under what circumstances are endorphins released?  What is dopamine?  What is the common term for where dopamine is produced in the brain, which is also linked to addiction?  What is an agonist?  What is an antagonist?  What mode of action do some neurotransmitter inhibitors use? What are we learning today?

Endorphins  Are chemicals that function like neurotransmitters  Act as natural painkillers by combining with receptors at synapses and blocking the transmission of pain signals  They also reduce anxiety and stress

Action of Endorphins

Ways to Increase Endorphins  Endorphin production increases in response to:  Physical and emotional stress  Severe injury  prolonged and continuous exercise  Certain foods e.g. chocolate

Other Ways to Increase Endorphin Production sunlight exercise Listen to music meditation laugh

Effect of Increased levels of Endorphins  Regulate appetite  Release sex hormones  Feelings of euphoria

Dopamine  Dopamine is the neurotransmitter used by the reward pathway  Released in pleasure centres of brain found in limbic system  It is released on engagement of beneficial behaviours, e.g. eating when hungry  It induces the feeling of pleasure and reinforces particular behaviour in the reward pathway, therefore linked to addiction

Agonists  An agonist is a chemical that binds to and stimulates a specific receptor on the post synaptic membrane  They mimic naturally occurring neurotransmitters  Trigger a normal cellular response

Antagonists  An antagonist is a chemical that binds to specific receptors on the post synaptic membrane blocking the action of the normal neurotransmitter  This reduces or stops normal transmission of nerve impulses

Inhibitors  Inhibit the enzymes which degrade neurotransmitters e.g. cholinesterase from degrading acetylcholine  Inhibit re-uptake e.g. norepinephrine

Treatment of Neurotransmitter Related Disorders  Many of the drugs used to treat neurotransmitter related disorders are similar to neurotransmitters  Disorders include  Alzheimer’s disease  Parkinson’s disease  Schizophrenia  Generalised anxiety disorders  Depression

 Case study Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia Activities

 What are endorphins?  Under what circumstances are endorphins released?  What is dopamine?  What is the common term for where dopamine is produced in the brain, which is also linked to addiction?  What is an agonist?  What is an antagonist?  What mode of action do some neurotransmitter inhibitors use? What have I learned today?