1. Neurotransmitters and the Synapse
Neural Communication

2. Question for Thought
What are ways in which you communicate with your friends?
Neurotransmitters are the means of communication for neurons. However, they can illicit action or stop all communication.

3. Question for Thought
How are neurotransmitters and the neuron linked to psychology? What is their importance?

4. Outline of Lesson Quick review of the Neuron parts Lecture Activity
Covering neurotransmitters
Activity

5. Film-Neural Communication

6. What neurotransmitters do Neurotransmitters are central to memory, learning, mood, behavior, sleep, pain perception and sexual urge. They operate at the junctions between neurons, allowing communication between cells.

7. Acetylcholine
involved in voluntary movement, learning, memory, and sleep
Too much acetylcholine is associated with depression, and too little in the hippocampus has been associated with dementia.

8. GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid)
inhibits excitation and anxiety
Major inhibitory neurotransmitter in Brain
Too little GABA is associated with anxiety and anxiety disorders. Some anti-anxiety medication increases GABA at the receptor sites.

9. Glutamate Common neurotransmitter in the brain
Always excitatory and driven by the Sodium-Potassium pump
Receptors concentrated in the Cerebral Cortex especially the hippocampus
Reabsorption of Glutamate is affected during mercury poisoning

10. Seratonin
plays a role in mood, sleep, appetite, and impulsive and aggressive behavior
Too little serotonin is associated with depression and some anxiety disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some antidepressant medications increase the availability of serotonin at the receptor sites.

11. involved in energy, and glucose metabolism
Epinephrine
involved in energy, and glucose metabolism
Too little epinephrine has been associated with depression.

12. Norepinephrine associated with eating, alertness
§ Too little norepinephrine has been associated with depression, while an excess has been associated with schizophrenia.

13. Dopamine correlated with movement, attention, and learning
Too much dopamine has been associated with schizophrenia, and too little is associated with some forms of depression as well as the muscular rigidity and tremors found in Parkinson’s disease.

14. Endorphins
involved in pain relief and feelings of pleasure and contentedness

15. Role of Neurotransmitters in the Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous system
Central Nervous system
Only two neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (Ach)
Norepinephrine
Many Neurotransmitters
Why?
Brain functions are not as uniformed
Many neurotransmitters to perform many different tasks

16. Film– 3D example of Neurotransmission

17. Examples of Neurotransmission

19. Drugs Many drugs and chemicals influence synaptic transmission
Drugs can be agonistic or antagonistic
But not all drugs increase dopamine levels in the brain in the same way.

21. Drugs cont.
Some substances imitate natural neuromediators and take their place on their receptors. Morphine, for example, binds to the receptors for endorphin (a natural "morphine" produced by the brain), while nicotine binds to the receptors for acetylcholine.
Other substances increase the secretion of natural neuromediators. Cocaine, for example, mainly increases the amount of dopamine in the synapses, while ecstasy mainly increases the amount of serotonin.
Still other substances block a natural neuromediator. Alcohol, for example, blocks the NMDA receptors.

22. Agonistic Drugs Increase synthesis of neurotransmitter
Increase release of neurotransmitter
Activate receptors, mimic neurotransmitter
Inhibit reuptake of neurotransmitter

23. Antagonistic Drugs Interfere with release of neurotransmitter
Occupy and block neurotransmitter sites
Cause neurotransmitter loss from vesicles.

24. Psychotropic drugs
Agonists mimic the neurotransmitter by binding to the receptor sites just as the neurotransmitters do and having the same effect on the receiving neuron. Agonists are used when it is believed that there is not enough neurotransmitter
Antagonists BLOCK the neurotransmitter by binding to the receptor sites without affecting the receiving neuron in the same way. Because they “fill” the receptor sites, the neurotransmitters can’t bind to the neuron. Antagonists are used when it is believed that there is TOO much of the neurotransmitter in the body.

25. Psychotropic drugs
When there is TOO LITTLE neurotransmitter in the body, drugs may also help by blocking reuptake and thus increasing the amount of neurotransmitter that remains in the synapse
Prozac is an example of this sort of drug. Prozac falls in a class of drugs called SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) and by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin, they increase the levels of this neurotransmitter in the brain.

26. Activity