Neurotransmitters and neurotransmission

What is the process by which neurons communicate with each other across a synapse called?

Neurotransmission

What triggers the release of neurotransmitters at the presynaptic terminal?

calcium ions

What is a synapse?

gap between neurons

What is the role of neurotransmitters in neurotransmission?

They are chemical messengers that transmit signals across a chemical synapse.

How do neurotransmitters affect the postsynaptic neuron?

open ion channels

What happens during exocytosis in neurotransmission?

Synaptic vesicles fuse with the presynaptic membrane to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

GABA

What substance did Otto Loewi identify as the first neurotransmitter?

acetylcholine

What distinguishes neurotransmitters from hormones?

Neurotransmitters act locally and rapidly across the synaptic cleft, while hormones are released into the bloodstream and act on distant cells.

What is the effect of serotonin on mood?

It helps regulate mood; low levels are associated with depression.

What is the function of dopamine in the brain?

It is key to reward, motivation, pleasure, and motor control.

What is the impact of Norepinephrine on the body?

It is involved in alertness, arousal, and the fight-or-flight response.

What happens to neurotransmitters after they are released into the synaptic cleft?

They are inactivated through reuptake, enzymatic degradation, or diffusion away from the synapse.

What does the term reuptake refer to in neurotransmission?

The process by which neurotransmitters are transported back into the presynaptic neuron after releasing their signal.

What role do endorphins play in the body?

They act as natural pain relievers and create feelings of euphoria.

What are the effects of excitation and inhibition in postsynaptic neurons?

Excitation makes the postsynaptic neuron more likely to fire an action potential, while inhibition makes it less likely.

Define divergence in a neural circuit.

A pattern where one neuron's axon branches to contact multiple other neurons.

Define convergence in a neural circuit.

A pattern where multiple neurons make synaptic contact with a single neuron.

What is the process by which neurons communicate with each other across a synapse called?

Neurotransmission

What triggers the release of neurotransmitters at the presynaptic terminal?

The influx of calcium ions ($Ca^{2+}$) due to depolarization and the opening of voltage-gated channels.

What is a synapse?

The specialized junction between two neurons where information is transmitted.

What is the role of neurotransmitters in neurotransmission?

They are chemical messengers that transmit signals across a chemical synapse.

How do neurotransmitters affect the postsynaptic neuron?

By binding to specific receptors, causing ion channels to open and changing the membrane potential.

What happens during exocytosis in neurotransmission?

Synaptic vesicles fuse with the presynaptic membrane to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

What substance did Otto Loewi identify as the first neurotransmitter?

Acetylcholine (ACh)

What distinguishes neurotransmitters from hormones?

Neurotransmitters act locally and rapidly across the synaptic cleft, while hormones are released into the bloodstream and act on distant cells.

What is the effect of serotonin on mood?

It helps regulate mood; low levels are associated with depression.

What is the function of dopamine in the brain?

It is key to reward, motivation, pleasure, and motor control.

What is the impact of Norepinephrine on the body?

It is involved in alertness, arousal, and the fight-or-flight response.

What happens to neurotransmitters after they are released into the synaptic cleft?

They are inactivated through reuptake, enzymatic degradation, or diffusion away from the synapse.

What does the term reuptake refer to in neurotransmission?

The process by which neurotransmitters are transported back into the presynaptic neuron after releasing their signal.

What role do endorphins play in the body?

They act as natural pain relievers and create feelings of euphoria.

What are the effects of excitation and inhibition in postsynaptic neurons?

Excitation makes the postsynaptic neuron more likely to fire an action potential, while inhibition makes it less likely.

Define divergence in a neural circuit.

A pattern where one neuron's axon branches to contact multiple other neurons.

Define convergence in a neural circuit.

A pattern where multiple neurons make synaptic contact with a single neuron.

What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

Glutamate.

What are the main categories of neurotransmitters based on their chemical structure?

Amino acids (e.g., Glutamate, GABA), monoamines (e.g., Dopamine, Serotonin), and neuropeptides (e.g., Endorphins).

How do ionotropic receptors mediate the effects of neurotransmitters?

They are ligand-gated ion channels that open directly when a neurotransmitter binds, causing rapid changes in membrane potential.

How do metabotropic receptors mediate the effects of neurotransmitters?

They are G-protein coupled receptors that initiate a signaling cascade, leading to slower, longer-lasting changes in the postsynaptic neuron.