Lecture Notes Review - Psychopharmacology and Neurotransmitters

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to psychopharmacology and neurotransmitter function to aid in exam preparation.

Pharmacokinetics

The movement of drugs within the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Pharmacodynamics

The effects of a drug on the body after it is absorbed, focusing on how it interacts with receptors.

Affinity

Describes how strongly a drug binds to its receptor, including how quickly it binds and how long it stays bound.

Efficacy

Refers to how effectively a drug activates a receptor once bound, influencing changes in receptor activity.

Agonist

A substance that binds to a receptor and activates it, causing a physiological response.

Antagonist

A substance that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, blocking the receptor's function.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement and various autonomic functions.

Catecholamines

A class of neurotransmitters that include dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, associated with arousal and stress.

Serotonin (5-HT)

An indolamine neurotransmitter synthesized from tryptophan, involved in mood, learning, and memory.

Glutamate

The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, crucial for learning and memory processes.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, important for regulating neuronal excitability.

Ionotropic Receptors

Receptors that are directly linked to ion channels and mediate fast synaptic transmission.

Metabotropic Receptors

Receptors that are linked to intracellular signaling pathways, leading to slower but longer-lasting effects.

Neurotransmitter Synthesis

The biochemical process through which neurotransmitters are produced in nerve cells.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron after their release.

Synaptic Cleft

The space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons where neurotransmitter diffusion occurs.

Neuromuscular Junction

The synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber where acetylcholine is released to initiate muscle contraction.