Unit 1A: Neurotransmitters & Psychopharmacology

Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Excitatory

• Responsible for all physical movement and involved with memory/learning

• A for Alzheimer's disease! Causes neurons that produce Acetylcholine to die, which are responsible for automatically respiring and heart beating

Neurotransmitter: Dopamine

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Excitatory

• Influence movement, learning, attention; commonly regarded with the "reward system” linked to pleasurable activities

• Gambling addiction → when gambling dopamine is rushing for them because they enjoy it

Neurotransmitter: Serotonin

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Excitatory

• Controls mood, sleep, hunger; it is that good mood!

• Too little is linked to depression

Neurotransmitter: GABA

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• the only Inhibitory!

• responsible for relaxation

• associated with anxiety-related disorders (a lack thereof)

  • GET A BREAK ADJUSTMENT they are the brakes for your Central Nervous System

Neurotransmitter: Norepinephrine

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Excitatory

• Responsible for alertness and arousal

• Too little is linked to depression

  • also NO danger for the NO in the norepineprhine because it is associated with flight or fight and needing to be aware of surrounds when in danger

Neurotransmitter: Glutamate

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Most abundant Excitatory 

• Deals with memory and learning

• Too much of it can overstimulate neruons to have action potentials and cause them to die early!

  • it is EXCITING to be GLUed T your MATE

Neurotransmitter: Substance P

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Excitatory

• Deals with stress responses to pain

• Too little causes you to NOT detect pain, which is important protective mechanism

  • P for Pain

Neurotransmitter: Endorphins

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Excitatory

• Body's natural painkillers; dampens pain levels

  • END in Endorphins to END pain

Psychopharmacology: Botulism

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Antagonist

• Blocks ACh release, causing muscle paralysis

• Found in botox, which is injected to essentially paralyze muscles to reduce wrinkles

Psychopharmacology: Curare

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Antagonist

• Blocks ACh receptors and thus paralysis

• na

Psychopharmacology: Antipsychotics

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Antagonist

• Blocks dopamine receptors

• Used to treated Schizophrenia, which is linked to high levels of dopamine 

Psychopharmacology: Caffeine

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Antagonist and stimulant

• Blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine responsible for drowsiness

• coffee

Psychopharmacology: Cocaine

• Type?

• Function?

• Example

• Agonist and stimulant

• Reuptake inhibitor meaning Dopamine neurotransmitters are more available and awakens the sympathetic nervous system like increasing alertness and breathing

  • CO in cocaine and DO in dopamine rhyme 

Psychopharmacology: Depressants

• Function?

• Examples

• Depress the CNS, slows it down; creates drowsiness and relieving anxiety

• Alcohol: Agonist of GABA = more tired

• Barbiturates: Agonist of GABA = more tired