Neurotransmitters Are Your Friends

Some Basics on Neurotransmission Neurotransmitters either excite or inhibit other neurons Agonists bind to receptor cells and cause the cell to respond, while antagonists inhibit the cell from responding. Can affect mood, memory decision making, problem solving and long term health

Serotonin CNS: regulation of mood Obsessions and compulsions Motivation/emotional responses Anti-depressants are designed to selectively block the re-uptake of serotonin in the brain

Dopamine CNS:basal ganglia motor loop Memory, attention, problem solving Released w/food and sex, pleasure and reward Cocaine blocks the re-uptake of Dopamine Also released when we are anticipating or making predictions about what might occur in the future and adjusting expectations when we are right/wrong

Norepinephrine CNS: involved in hypothalamus with Hunger, also interacts with dopamine and Serotonin Alertness and Attention Concentration and Energy Anti-depressants will also target Norepinephrine

Epinephrine CNS: readies body or fight/fight increase HR, BP, Blood to skeletal muscles Adrenaline acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and as a hormone in the blood circulation.

Acetylcholine CNS/PNS: muscle contraction, sweating, fight/flight response back to normal (sympathetic/parasympathetic) Acts to help return to Homeostasis Acts as an inhibitor to cardiac tissue Is excitatory in skeletal muscles Nicotine mimics acetylcholine, it fits into the same chemical locks

GABA CNS: decrease neural activity Acts as a depressant at the neural level Decrease inhibitions/anxiety/tension Alcohol mimics GABA

Glutamate CNS: Excitatory, long term memory and learning Essential for Long Term Potentiation (LTP) and encoding memory A precursor for the synthesis of GABA which helps explain the impaired cognitive functioning when drunk