Neurons Review

Neurons communicate with each other forming interconnected neurons that relay messages throughout your body. 

To do this, they use both electrical and chemical messages. The electrical signals are called an action potential.

At the synapse, which is the gap between two neurons, the action potential transforms from an electrical signal to a chemical message to cross the synapse. The brain’s chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters.

2. What is a Neurotransmitter?  (Slide 3 in the narrator’s explanation)

• The brain’s chemical messenger 

• There are more than 100  kinds of neurotransmitters

• Neurotransmitters are released from the nerve    terminal, spread across the synapse, and attach to receptors on the target    cell . 

3. Take a few notes on the neurotransmission video: (Slide 4)

• Neurons power your thoughts and actions.

• Messages start as electrical signals and then are converted to chemical message.

• Synapses get stronger as they are used more often. 

4. (Slide 4 in narrator’s explanation following the video)

 The release of neurotransmitter can trigger an action potential in the neuron on the other side of the synapse. This either conveys the message OR quiets it.

This happens over and over. Repeated activity strengthens the synapse which means the next message is more likely to get through.

Important actions are passed on while others are ignored. 

This is how brain adapts and stays efficient. 

5. What are 8 key neurotransmitters and what do they associate with? (Slide 5)

• Adrenaline; flight or flight

• Noradrenaline; concentration

• Dopamine; pleasure

• Serotonin; mood

• GABA; calming

• Acetylcholine; learning

• Glutamate; memory

• Endorphins; euphoria 

6. What does dopamine do? (Slide 6)

• Tells you something is about to be great!

• Interacts with the cortex to organize behavior

• Produces attention, stimulation, and focus to get something you want, satisfaction comes afterward

• Is associated with addiction and motivation

7. (Slide 7) 

In humans and other animals, a brain circuit called the reward    system promotes survival. 

It produces your drive for food, intimate relationships, social interactions, and other basic functions. 

When we believe something good is about to happen or even if we think something great could happen…this causes a allure and excited in our brain.  If you believe something good is about to happen, you get alert and excited; you anticipate reward. 

8. What are the three parts of the brain that are involved in the Reward triad? (Slide 7)

• Prefrontal Cortex

• Nucleus accumbens 

• Amygdala 

9. What is involved in the brain’s reward system? (Slide 8)

• Your reward system (or TRIAD) evaluates the likelihood that an activity will have a positive outcome.

• The cortex is the brain’s boss that is responsible for decision making and decisions made.

• The amygdala assesses your emotional threat and evaluates the level of threat.

• The nucleus accumbens processes the reward and releases dopamine for you to chase what you love and want. 

10. Teen Triad = “I Love Reward” (Slide 9)

    • The teen brain weighs the reward greater than the threat. 

    • In teens, both the threat part (amygdala) and the reward part (nucleus accumbens) of the triad matures before the cortex. 

    • As noted by the much larger pink arrow on the slide, a teens desire and anticipation of a reward influences decision making powerfully, the amygdala isn’t sounding the threat alarm in the teen brain, so it is on “go”. 

TEACHER NOTE/NOTE FOR STUDENTS: This isn’t said on slide 9 but is important and will be further explained in Unit 2. The influence of the amygdala over the cortex is stronger than the cortex over the amygdala. This explains why adolescents take more risks than adults.

11. What are some important facts about the reward system? (Slide 13)

• The brain remembers when and how    dopamine was released

• The brain learns cues and coordinates behavior to achieve dopamine and experience a pleasurable activity or experience again 

• The teen reward system is always on go.

12. Tips for Positive Teen Decision-Making (Slide 15)

• Practice using self-regulation skills.

• Practice slowing down and thinking before acting

• Ask a trusted adult for advice 

13. The amygdala processes threat.  (Slide 17)

14.  Why is fear useful? (Slide 21)

• Fear is a survival mechanism.

• The amygdala is the brain’s threat center.

• A memory is created that may influence a person if a similar situation occurs in the future.

15. Triad Summary  (Slide 22)

The brain balances potential rewards and threats and takes proper action.

The teen brain loves to anticipate rewards.

The teen brain does not valuethreat as accurately as the adult brain.