Psychology 101 - Action Potentials & Neurotransmitters (L2)

Front 1

Define pheromones.

Back 1

Pheromones:

Chemical signalling between two organisms within a species.

Front 2

Are the amount of pheromones cumulative?

Back 2

No. The amount of pheromones aren't cumulative.

Front 3

A human's resting membrane potential is around ______ mV.

Back 3

A human's resting membrane potential is around -70 mV.

Front 4

What are the two major ions responsible for action potentials?

Back 4

Two ions responsible for action potential:

- Na+

- K+

Front 5

There is more ___ ions inside the cell. There is more ___ ions outside of the cell.

Back 5

There is more K+ ions inside the cell. There is more Na+ ions outside of the cell.

*Note: "Ooo Na Na" song = bad connotation = Na+ being outside the cell.

Front 6

Fill in the names of each structure.

Back 6

Front 7

Define "action potential".

Back 7

Action potential:

A rapid change then return to baseline in the voltage across a cellular membrane.

Front 8

Action potentials travel along a(n) __________.

Back 8

Action potentials travel along a(n) axon.

Front 9

Action potentials are the basis of _______________ ______________.

Back 9

Action potentials are the basis of neural communication.

Front 10

What causes action potentials to occur?

Back 10

Action potential flowchart

1) Incoming signal from the brain. Activation gate closed. In-activation gate open.

2) Voltage-gated Na+ channels open along the axon and allow Na+ to flow down its electrical gradient which depolarizes the cell. Activation gate open. Inactivation gate closed.

3) Cellular membrane reaches threshold.

4) Action potential.

5) Activation gate on the voltage-gated Na+ channel begins to close as K+ "leaks" out of the cell.

6) Overshoot/hyperpolarization (i.e. cellular potential gets more negative than baseline).

7) K+ ions, paired with the closed voltage-gated Na+ channel, allow the cell to return to baseline potential.

Front 11

Name characteristics of the action potential.

Back 11

Action potential characteristics

- Saltatory motion ("jumping" from node to node).

* Saltatory motion is faster than traveling down the axon.
- Travels like a wave down the axon

- Node of Ranvier

- Axons covered in a myelin sheath and is an insulator which causes the electrical signal to jump from node to node

Front 12

Define synapse.

Back 12

Synapse:

* Pre- and post- synaptic terminals located at the ends of axons.

* Synapses house neurotransmitters that diffuse across the pre-/post- synaptic cleft to receptors on the receiving synapse.

* Also referred to as "terminal buttons/butons".

Front 13

Define neurotransmitter.

Back 13

Neurotransmitter:

Chemicals stored in neurons that can activate receptors (via binding sites) on other neurons.

Front 14

What is a vesicle? What does it do?

Back 14

Vesicle:

- Membrane "pouch" of neurotransmitters from the post-synaptic terminal that has budded off in response to having received an action potential.

- Vesicles diffuse across the synaptic cleft, fuse with the post-synaptic terminal, and release the neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters bind to its receptor binding sites to cause either an antagonistic or agonistic affect.

Front 15

Name the four types of neurotransmitters to know.

Back 15

Neurotransmitters to know:

* Acetylcholine (ACh)

* Dopamine

* Serotonin (5-HT)

* Monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Front 16

What are ther roles of acetylcholine? What is its receptor called?

Back 16

Acetylcholine (ACh)

- Roles:

* Movement

* Learning

* Memory

- ACh receptors are called "nicotinic receptors"

Front 17

What are the roles of dopamine?

Back 17

Roles of dopamine (DA):

- Movement

- Learning

- Addictions

Front 18

What role does dopamine play in Parkinson's disease?

Back 18

Dopamine & Parkinson's Disease

- Dopamine is a neurotransmitter used by the brain to control muscle movement.

- In Parkinson's disease the cells that make dopamine slowly die.

- Insufficient dopamine disallow the brain to send neural signals to the muscles which causes loss of muscle control in the individual.

Front 19

What role does dopamine play in schizophrenia?

Back 19

Dopamine & Schizophrenia

- Schizophrenia is caused by overproduction of dopamine

- Dopamine helps regulate thought, perception, and memory

- Overabundance of dopamine causes the thought/perception/memory manifestations associated with Schizophrenia

Front 20

What are the roles of serotonin (5-HT)?

Back 20

Serotonin (5-HT) Roles

* Eating

* Mood

* Sleep

Front 21

What role(s) do(es) serotonin play in depression?

Back 21

Serotonin & Depression

Serotonin deficiency causes depression.

Front 22

What role(s) do(es) serotonin play in anorexia nervosa?

Back 22

Tryptophan can only be attained in a diet. Someone with anorexia nervosa doesn't eat which causes a tryptophan deficiency.

* Tryptophan deficiency causes the behavioral changes observed in people with anorexia nervosa (i.e depression/anxiety, hyperactivity, self-control and behavioral impulsivity).

* Troptophan is converted by tryptophan hydroxylase into 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine, aka serotonin)

Front 23

______________ is a dietary precursor to _____________.

Back 23

Serotonin is a dietary percursor to tryptophan.

Front 24

Describe the how serotonin is made in the body.

Back 24

Tryptophan from food is converted to 5-hydroxytryptamine by tryptophan hydroxylase (aka serotonin).

Front 25

What is 5-HT?

Back 25

5-HT = 5-hydroxytryptamine = serotonin

^^^^^^^^^^ All the same thing ^^^^^^^^

Just different names.

Front 26

What is MAO? What does MAO do?

Back 26

MAO = Monamine oxidase

Monamine oxidase destroys excess NT "hanging out" in the synaptic cleft.