1. Neurotransmitters Are Your Friends

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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.

9. 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

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

13. 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