CCP Psychopharmacology: Exam Review 1

Calcium channel

A structure on the presynaptic membrane that allows calcium ions to enter the cell, facilitating neurotransmitter release.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical substances released by neurons that transmit signals across synapses.

Ionotropic receptors

Receptors that mediate effects through opening or closing ion channels, leading to rapid responses.

Metabotropic receptors

Receptors that trigger a series of intracellular events through second messengers, usually resulting in slower, longer-lasting effects.

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

A brain region involved in the reward pathway, releasing dopamine to various parts of the brain.

Hindbrain

The lower portion of the brain composed of the medulla oblongata, pons, and cerebellum, which together regulate vital autonomic functions, motor coordination, and sensory relays.

Medulla oblongata

A key hindbrain structure at the base of the brainstem that controls critical autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Pons

A hindbrain structure located above the medulla that serves as a bridge between the forebrain and cerebellum, contributing to sleep, arousal, and autonomic regulation.

Cerebellum

A hindbrain structure that plays a critical role in coordinating voluntary movements, balance, and maintaining posture.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that includes all the nerves located outside of the CNS.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons in the brain.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize and form new connections in response to learning and experience.

Thalamus

The central relay station of the brain that processes sensory information except for smell.

Hypothalamus

A small region at the base of the brain that regulates various homeostatic processes, such as hunger and thirst.

Amygdala

A brain region involved in the processing of emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.

Mesolimbic pathway

A dopamine pathway connecting the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens, playing a crucial role in reward, pleasure, and addiction.

Mesocortical pathway

A dopamine pathway connecting the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex, involved in cognitive control, motivation, and emotional response.

Nigrostriatal pathway

A dopamine pathway connecting the substantia nigra to the dorsal striatum, essential for movement control and motor planning.

Tuberoinfundibular pathway

A dopamine pathway connecting the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, regulating the inhibition of prolactin secretion.

Substantia nigra

A midbrain structure that contains dopaminergic neurons projecting to the striatum, key to movement control.

Nucleus accumbens

A major structure in the ventral striatum that receives dopaminergic input from the VTA, central to processing reward signals.

Hippocampus

A limbic system structure critical for explicit memory consolidation and spatial navigation.

Frontal lobe

The brain region associated with higher cognitive functions such as planning, decision-making, and impulse control.

Parietal lobe

The lobe of the brain responsible for processing sensory information related to touch and spatial awareness.

Temporal lobe

The brain lobe involved in processing auditory information and memory formation.

Occipital lobe

The region of the brain responsible for visual processing.

Glutamate

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and emotional processing.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

An imaging technique used to observe metabolic processes in the brain by detecting radioactive tracers.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain's structure.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

An imaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.