Neurotransmitters (AP Psychology)

acetylcholine (ACh)

Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. It Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some of its receptors are stimulated by nicotine (associated with Alzheimer's Disease)

Deficiency - Alzheimer's

Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle movement

dopamine (DA)

Voluntary movement

-Alertness - Attention

-Rewards

-Emotion

Excess - Schizophrenia

Deficiency - Parkinson's Disease

norepinephrine (NE)

-"Fight or flight" response: elevates heart rate, circulation, respiration; slows digestion

-Controls alertness, arousal

-Mood elevation

Deficiency - Depression, ADHD

Excess - Anxiety, High blood pressure

serotonin

-Mood regulation

-Hunger/Appetite

--Arousal

Deficiency - Depression (Treated with SSRI's - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed in uptake, leaving more in synapses)

Excess - Anxiety, OCD, Insomnia, Hypermania

(associated with Depressive disorders, Obsessive-compulsive disorders, Eating disorders)

GABA

Brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter

Deficiency - Seizures, Insomnia

glutamate

Brain's main (agonist) excitatory neurotransmitter

-Creates links between neurons that form basis of learning, long-term memory.

Excess - Multiple sclerosis

Excess - Seizures & Migraines(Avoid foods with MSG - monosodium glutamate; overstimulate brain)

Acetylcholine

Alzheimers

Dopamine

oversupply = Schizophrenia, termors, Parkinson's

Serotonin

Undersupply = Depression

Norepinephrine

oversupply can depress mood

GABA

undersupply = Seizures, tremors, insomnia

Glutamate

Oversupply can overstimulate brain, migranes or seizures

Endorphins

-Pain control & relief - Stress reduction

-Feelings of pleasure

-Natural opiates

Deficiency - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction

Morphine is an agonist for endorphins

Endorphins

undersupply - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction

Endorphins

oversupply can lead to insensitivity to pain/little pain