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12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Neurotransmitters |
Chemical substances produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, organs or other tissue |
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Where is the neurotransmitter released? |
Released into the synaptic gap which is part of the synapse |
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Excitatory Effect |
-Stimulates/activate post-synaptic neurons
-Makes post-synaptic neurons more likely to fire and enhances neural transmission
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Inhibitory Effect |
-Prevents post-synaptic neuron from firing
-Makes post-synaptic neuron less likely to fire |
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Glutamate |
Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS (brain) |
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Gamma-amino-butyruc acid (GABA) |
Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS (brain) |
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Function of Glutamate |
Essential for learning and memory |
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Function of GABA |
-Helps regulate anxiety -Fine-tunes and maintains neurotransmission at an optimal level |
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Two examples of excitatory neurotransmitters |
Glutamate and Dopamine |
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Two examples of Inhibitory neurotransmitters |
GABA and seratonine |
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What would happen if we did not have the inhibitory effect of GABA? |
The activation of post-synaptic neurons could get out of control and spread throughout the brain (causing seizures similar to those of epilepsy and other problems) |
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Explain how chemical neurotransmission occurs as a lock-and-key process |
1. Each neurotransmitter has a chemically disctinct shape, like a key and a lock 2. The neurotransmitter (key) must bind to to correctly shaped receptor on the post-synaptic neuron, 3. resulting in either an excitatory or inhibitory effect |
