5.2 Neurons & Neurotransmitters

Neuroscience Paradigm

Paradigm that believes psychological disorders are linked to aberrant processes in the brain

Neurotransmitters

The body’s chemical messengers, acting as a crucial communication system for the nervous system

Excitatory, Inhibitory, & Modulatory

Three Categories of Neurotransmitters

Excitatory

This category of neurotransmitters encourage a receiving cell to fire an action potential (an electrical signal), thereby passing the message along

Inhibitory

This category of neurotransmitters reduce the likelihood that a receiving cell will fire, effectively acting as a “break” on the nervous system

Modulatory

This category of neurotransmitters can influence a larger group of neurons at once and over a longer period, “fine-tuning” or adjusting how cells communicate

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that allow neurons to send signals across the synapse to other neurons

Synapse

Refers to the small gap between the terminal endings of the sending axon and the cell membrane of the receiving neuron

Reuptake

The process where the neurotransmitters in the synapse are either broken down by enzymes or taken back into the presynaptic cell

Agonist

Chemicals/drugs that effectively increases the activity of the neurotransmitters (Excitatory)

Antagonist

Chemicals/drugs that decreases or blocks neurotransmitters (Inhibitory)

Inverse Agonists

Chemicals/drugs that produce effects opposite to those produced by neurotransmitters