Neurotransmitters

Chapter 2
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
• Chemical substances
in the presynaptic
neuron’s terminal
buttons that diffuse
across the synaptic
cleft to transmit a
neural impulse
• They influence the
receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
• 50-100 have been
identified
– Each has its own
chemical structure
– Each can fit into a
specific receptor site
on the dendrite of a
receiving cell
• Example: Like a
key fitting into a
lock
Neurotransmitters
• Some act to excite other
neurons (excitatory synapses)
– Cause neurons to fire
• Some act to inhibit receiving
neurons (inhibitory synapses)
– Prevent neurons from firing
• Very important!! When we
burn our finger and the
burning sensation goes
away, it is our inhibitory
synapses
Neurotransmitters
• Involved in processes
ranging from muscle
contraction to emotional
responses
• Excesses or deficiencies
of neurotransmitters
have been linked to
psychological disorders
– Depression and
Schizophrenia
Neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine (ACh) (first neurotransmitter

to be discovered)
– Controls muscle contractions and is involved
in memory formation
– Excitatory (causes receiving neurons to fire)
at synapses between nerves and muscles
that involve voluntary movement
– If it is blocked, Ach can’t get to the site and
muscles will not be capable of
contracting…so…?
Neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine
– Deficiencies are connected with paralysis
Neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine
– Curare
• A toxin that South
American Indians use
on blow darts
• Prevents ACh from
lodging within receptor
sites in neurons; result
is paralysis and often
death (can’t breath)
Neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine
– Prevalent in the Hippocampus
• Involved in the formation of
memories
• Level of ACh to the brain
decreases, memory function
will be impaired
– Alzheimer's Disease
– Gradual deterioration in
mental processes such
as memory, language,
and problem solving
Neurotransmitters
• GABA
– Gamma-aminobutyric acid
– Inhibitory neurotransmitter
• Calms people down,
lowers anxiety
• Without the inhibitory
effect, brain activity is
so accelerated that the
person senses an
anxiety overload
GABA and Drugs
• Alcohol contains
GABA (acts as an
agonist for GABA)
– This is why people
drink to “calm-down”
or “relax”
• Xanax or Valium
– Strengthen the effects
of the low-levels of
GABA
Neurotransmitters
• Serotonin
– Inhibitory or excitatory neurotransmitter
– Involved in emotional arousal and sleep
– Helps regulate a person’s mood and appetite
Neurotransmitters
• Serotonin
– Deficiencies are linked to:
• Overeating
• Alcoholism
• Depression
• Aggression
• Insomnia
Neurotransmitters
• Dopamine
– An inhibitory or
excitatory
neurotransmitter
– Involved with voluntary
muscles, learning and
memory, and emotional
arousal
• Levels increase
when:
– You fall in love-
giddiness
– You get scared
Neurotransmitters
• Dopamine
– Deficiencies are linked
to Parkinson’s disease
• People lose control
over their muscles-
have jerky
uncontrollable
movements
Neurotransmitters
Too much Dopamine…..
– Schizophrenia
• People have more receptor
sites for dopamine in an
area of the brain that is
involved in emotional
responding
– Overutilize the dopamine
available in the brain
– Leads to hallucinations
and disturbances of
thought and emotion
How do high or low levels of
Dopamine affect a person?
• High Levels-
– Undistracted
– Works intensely on tasks
• Low Levels-
– Unattentive
– Distractible, moves from
one thing to another, has
difficultly completing a job
– Difficulty thinking ahead
– Impulsive
Neurotransmitters
• Endorphins
– Inhibitory, pain controlling
neurotransmitters
– Naturally produced in the brain
and bloodstream
• Lock into receptor sites for
chemicals that transmit pain
messages to the brain
• Once the endorphin “key” is in
the “lock”, the pain-causing
chemicals are locked out
• Similar to the drug morphine
and heroin (why it can hurt so
much to go through
withdrawal)
Substances (such as drugs) that
affect Neurotransmitters
• Agonists
– Chemical substances that mimic or enhance the
effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor cites of
the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of
that cell, depending on what the effect of the original
neurotransmitter (excitatory or inhibitory) was going to
be
• Antagonist
– Chemical substances that block or reduce a cell’s
response to the action of other chemicals or
neurotransmitters (makes original neurotransmitter do
opposite action)

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Chapter 2

• Acetylcholine (ACh) (first neurotransmitter

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