Behavioral Neuroscience

What is the space between neurons where they communicate?

Synaptic cleft

What is the receiving structure of neurons

the post synaptic element

What is the secretory granules

The house peptide neurotransmitter ( made in the cell body, packaged by the golgi apparatus.

what supplies energy to create neurotransmitter inside the terminal button?

The mitochondria

What classical neurotransmitter

Dopamine, norepinephrine etc

How is classical Neurotransmitter made?

In the axon terminal and its packaged by the vesicles by transporter proteins

What is a SNARE protein?

the thing that fuses with the membrane

Why is SNARE dangerous

its toxic and can prevent from the neurotransmitter to be released ( ex: botox)

What is the inonotropic transmission

Its FAST, the binding of a neurotransmitter to receptor that directly opens or closes an ion channel

what happens when the inonotropic transmission shape?

the shape of the receptor protein is changed, which opens the ion channel ( they are the same protein)

What is special about ionotropic transmission channels

the channels are chemically gated ( open by chemical binding)

What is the metabotropic transmission

its SLOW, Binding of a neurotransmitter to receptor does not open an ion channel but rather activates a G-protein, causing it to seperate into subunits that open the ion channels

what can metabotropic transmission effect

it has long lasting effects on the postsynaptic cell and can induce metabolic changes /alter gene expression

How do EPSP & IPSP work

they are summed together / a combined input at different spatial locations occurring at the same time

what is total summation

overtime multiple EPSPs pile up and when a neuron fires rapidly, creates longer depolarization

what is spatial summation

when an EPSPs combine they exceed the threshold so an action potential will fire

what is the major classifications of neurotransmitters

amines, amino acids, peptides

what are amines

they are synthized in the axon terminal, classical small molecule transmitter

what are the main amines

Acetylcholine, dopamine, norephrine, serotonin

what are the main amino acids

glutamate, GABA, glycine

what are peptides

made in the cell body form larger proteins, the granduales move down

what main peptides

enkephalins, substance p, cholecystokinin, neuropeptide

What is Acetylocholine (ACh) special

its the first identified neurotransmitter

what are neurons called when they release ACh

cholinergic

what are the functions of ACh

muscular control, PNS, Memory and cognitive function (CNS)

where does the ACh originate?

Basal forebrain nuclei

How is ACh synthesized

Choline transporter ( from the blood stream) goes into the presynaptic cell. Choline ( from diet) and Acetyl CoA create ChAT to make ACh. ACh then goes into a vesicle and binds to the cell

What is a nicotinic receptor

its located in the brain, its ionotropic and its on skeletal muscles/ muscle contraction, mimics ACh ( agonist)

what is Ionotropic

its extracellular space and causes immediate ion flow

what is a muscarinic receptor

binds to muscle turnic and acts like ACh, works on slowing the heart rate (PNS)/ stop SNS, metabotropic

what is metabotropic

Activates G-proteins, which then activate second messengers to open channels or alter cell function and its slow. Causes the heart rate to not slow down

How is the ACh deactivated and recycled?

Once in the cleft, Acetylcholinesterase ( AChE) breaks down ACh into its base comentes of choline and acetic acids

What are neurons called when they release dopamine (DA)?

Dopaminergic

what functions does DA control

Motor control pathways (CNS) and Reward and motivation (CNS)

Where is the DA originated

Mesolimbortical pathway ( cortex, hippocampus etc) and the mesostriatal pathway ( substantia nigra to stratum)

What is the synthesis of DA

DA then converted by tyrosine to L-Dopa ( can cross the blood brain barrier) back into DA

What are the receptor of DA

there are five subtypes D1 -D5 and metabotropic receptors

What is the deactivation and recycling of DA

Its reuptake into the terminal. Two enzymes degrade it MAO ( monoamine oxidase) and COMT ( catechol-o-methyltransferase)

What are examples of when the reuptake of DA is blocked

Cocaine ( blocks the transport to the terminal) and Ritalin ( block but mild stimulation effect) : Both causing longer feelings of the drug

what is a drug that alters DA transmission in synthesis

L-dopa , excitatory Da synthesis, ex: parkinsons

what drug alters Da in binding

Antipsychotics, blocks DA receptors ex: Schizophrenia

What are neurons that release Norepinephrine (NE) called?

Noradrenergic

What are the functions of NE

Arousal and alertness (CNS) and stress response ( sympathetic activation; PNS)

Where does NE originate/ cell bodies located

Locus coeruleus

What is the synthesis of norepinephine

Same process as DA but then once it reaches DA it is converted by dopamine beta-hydroxylase ( inside synaptic vesicles)

What are the primary receptors for NE

alpha and beta ( excitatory found in the heart muscles)

Is Norepinephrine receptors ionotropic or metabotropic?

Metabotropic ( G-protein-coupled receptors)

what is the deactivation and recycling of NE

the same as DA: reuptake into the terminal and broken down by MAO and COMT

What Drugs inhibit NE breakdown?

MAOIs- it inhibits MAO, anit depressent (1st gen

what drugs blocks NE reuptake

Tricyclic antidepressants

What drug blocks the NE binding to B receptors

beta -blocker/ hypertension

What are the neurons called that release Serotonin (5-HT)

Serotonergic

what are the functions of 5-HT

Regulation of moods, Sleep and arousal, aggressive behavior ( all CNS behavior)

Where are the cell bodies located in the brain for 5-HT

Raphe nuclei

what is the synthesis of serotonin

tryptophan ( found in your diet) is converted by tryptophan hydroxylase into 5-HTP and thats converted into 5-HTP decarboxylase into 5-HT

What are the receptors for 5-HT

15 diff types, all are meatbotropic and linked to second messenger systems

what is the deactivation and recycling of 5-HT

Reuptake in the terminal and degraded by MAO

what are some drugs that alter 5-HT reuptake

prozac, zoloft ad paxil

what is MDMA ( ecstasy) do in the body

it increase serotonin and blocks the receptor, bindings so much better then 5-HT

what does MDMA do to the serotonin

it reversed the act of the transporter and its pumped back in

what are the neurons that release glutamate ( Glu) called

glutamatergic

what are the major functions of Glu

Major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, learning and memory ( sypatic plasticity) and excitotoxicity ( cell death from being too excited)

What is major ionotropic receptors in Glu

AMPA and NMDA - both are excitatory and long term changes in synaptic

what are the metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs)

(mGluRs make it more or less excited) excitatory and inhibitory coupled to 2nd messengers

what is an example of a drug that alter Glutamate

Memantie (NMDA receptor antagonist) use to prevent excitotoxic cell death associated with dementia and alzheimers

What are a few other drugs that alter Glutamate

Phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine ( special K), and alcohol

What are the neurons that release GABA called?

GABAergic

what is the function of GABA

major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and regulates the neuronal excitability (helps maintain a balance in activity)

What is the ionotropic receptor for GABA

GABAa and the inhbitory CL-

What is the metabotropic receptor for GABA

GABAb anf G-protein coupled ( inhibitory)

What are examples of drugs that alter GABA Transmisson

Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Anti convulsants, GHB and propofol