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Neurotransmitters Information in this presentation taken from UCCP Content.

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Presentation on theme: "Neurotransmitters Information in this presentation taken from UCCP Content."— Presentation transcript:

1 Neurotransmitters Information in this presentation taken from UCCP Content

2 Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters are involved in physical processes, such as muscle contractions, as well as, psychological processes, such as thoughts and emotions. Excesses or deficiencies in neurotransmitters have been linked to some psychological disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) controls muscle contractions, especially those controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The drug curare (a poison) attaches to the receptor sites on muscles, blocking the receptor sites, preventing acetylcholine from acting which will cause paralysis.

3 Neurotransmitters Dopamine is involved in voluntary movements, learning and memory, and emotional arousal. Schizophrenia is characterized by hallucinations and disturbances of thought and emotion. These symptoms have been linked to too much dopamine being released in the brain. In comparison, a lack of dopamine in the brain has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, which is characterized by muscle tremors and decreased mobility. Noradrenaline helps to control alertness and arousal. It accelerates heart rate, affects eating, and is linked with activity levels, learning, and remembering. Excess and deficiencies have been linked to mood disorders. Stimulants, such as cocaine and amphetamines (eg speed) facilitate the release of noradrenaline and prevent its reabsorption (reuptake) keeping it in the synaptic cleft for longer periods of time, thus increasing the firing of the neurons. Serotonin affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal. Deficiencies in serotonin are involved in obesity, depression, insomnia, alcoholism, and aggression. Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin help in depression. By blocking reuptake, the neurotransmitter stays in the cleft longer allowing for more of the neurotransmitter to attach to the receiving neuron. Endorphins inhibit pain. They act as the body’s “natural painkiller” and produce the same effects that painkilling drugs such as morphine do.

4 How Drugs and Other Chemicals Alter Neurotransmission Drugs can affect neural communication by either causing neurons to fire or by keeping them from firing. Drugs that “excite” neurons and cause them to fire are called agonists. Agonists either (1) attach themselves to receptor sites and “act” like neurotransmitters, mimicking their effect or (2) block the reuptake of the neurotransmitters, keeping the neurotransmitter in the cleft for longer thus intensifying its effect. Drugs that “inhibit” a neuron from firing are called antagonists. Antagonists either (1) keep the neurotransmitters from being released or (2) they block the receptor sites on the receiving neuron but do not create the effects of the neurotransmitter.


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