neurotransmitters

brain chemicals released from synaptic vessles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.

excitatory and inhibitory

excitatory: increases positive charge and the likely hood the neuron will fire eg adrenaline

inhibittory: increases negative charge and decreases the likelihood that a neuron will hire eg serotonins

role of neurotransmitters

agonist

increases the production/stimulates the action of NTs (anti depressants)

antagonist

decreases the producation/blacks the action of NTs (anti-psychotic/anti-anxiety)

depression

cause: low serotonin being received by post synaptic neuron

treatment: anti-depressants block uptake of serotonin to the pre-synaptic neuron therefore allowing it more change to bind to the post- synaptic receptors

anxiety

cause: high serotonin being received by post synaptic neuron

treatment: anti-anxiety drugs aimed at decreasing serotonin

schizophrenia

cause: high dopamine being received by post synaptic neuron

treatment: anti-psychotics aimed at decreasing dopamine levels being recieved by post- synaptic receptors

selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

re-uptake: is when serotonin is being defused across the synapse it gets reabsorbed in the in the original neuron instead of diffusing across and binding to the receptor site this = low levels of serotonin

selective serotonin re-take inhibitors (SSRIs): block the re-uptake channels forcing the neurotransmitters to the receptor site which increases levels of serotonin

selective bc its a specific lock and key to serotonin