Neurotransmitters

Adrenaline (Fight or Flight): Produced in stressful situations. Increases heart rate and blood flow. Leading to physical boost and heightened awareness

Gaba (Calming): Calming firing nerves in the central nervous system high levels improve focus and low levels cause anxiety. Also contributes to motor control and vision

Noradrenaline (Concentration): affects attention and responding actions in the brain. Contracts blood vessels increasing blood flow

Acetylcholine (Learning): Involved in thought. Learning and memory. Activates muscle action in the body. Also associated with attention and awakening.

Dopamine (Pleasure): feelings of pleasure, also addiction, movement and motivation. People repeat behaviours that lead to dopamine release

Glutamate (Memory): Most common neurotransmitter. Involved in learning and memory. Regulates development and creation of never contacts

Serotonin (Mood): Contributes to well-being and happiness helps sleep cycle and digestive system regulation. Affected by exercise and light exposure

Endorphins (Euphoria): Released during exercise. Excitement and sex produce well-being and euphoria. Reducing pain

Second messenger: a chemical that, when activated by a neurotransmitter, initiates communication to many areas within the neuron

How do Metabotropic receptors: When a neurotransmitter binds, instead of a ion channel opening, this then activates the G protein, to either open a neighboring ion channel or invites a second messenger

Most excitatory ionotropic synapses Use which neurotransmitter: Glutamate. Opens NA+

Ionotropic receptor: When a neurotransmitter binds to the receptor it opens up allowing for one type of ion to pass through

How do we synthesis neurotransmitters: Our neurons create these neurotransmitters and other chemicals through the foods that we eat.

Neurotransmitter: act quickly and locally to send specific signals between neurons at synapses

Nueromodulators: Modulate the activity of neurons and neural circuits over time periods and often across wider regions of the brain

In order for a molecule to be classified as a neurotransmitter it must: Chemicals produced within a neuron

In order for a molecule to be classified as a neurotransmitter it must: Released by a neuron following depolarization from presynaptic neuron and acts on adjacent post-synaptic neuron

In order for a molecule to be classified as a neurotransmitter it must: Exogenous administration mimics endogenous release (drugs!)

In order for a molecule to be classified as a neurotransmitter it must: Does not remain in the postsynaptic cleft for a long period (clearance)