Psychology Chapter 3.2

synapse

a very small space between two neurons and is an important site where communication between neurons occurs

antagonist

blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor

SSRIs; prozac; paxil; zoloft

by preventing reuptake, ___ strengthen the effect of serotonin giving it more time to interact with serotonin receptors on dendrites; give 3 examples

agonists

chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site, and thus strengthen its effects

mood, sleep, and learning

dopamine is involved in what? (3)

increased pleasure, suppressed appetite

dopamine's potential effect on behavior is what? (2)

psychotropic medications

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

multiple sclerosis (MS) which involves the large scale loss of the myelin sheath which can lead to dizziness, fatigue, loss of motor control, and sexual disfunction

give an example of a disorder that involves the loss of the myelin sheath

the neurotransmitter and the receptor have a lock and key relationship meaning that specific neurotransmitters fit specific receptors similar to how a key fits a lock

how does a neurotransmitter know which receptor to bind to?

myelin sheath

in some axons, glial cells form a fatty substance known as the ___, which coats the axon and acts as an insulator, increasing the speed at which signal travels

heart, intestines, and alertness

norepinephrine is involved in what? (3)

increased arousal, suppressed appetite

norepinephrine's potential effect on behavior is what? (2)

dendrite

once neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, they travel across the small space and bind with corresponding receptors on the ___of and adjacent neuron

glial cells

outnumber neurons ten to one and play a supportive role to neurons both physically and metabolically

semipermeable membrane

part of the neuron that allows smaller molecules and molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules

reuptake inhibitors

prevent unused neurotransmitters from being transported back to the neuron leaving more neurotransmitters in the synapse for a longer time, increasing its effects

receptors

proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach, vary in shape, with different shapes "matching" different neurotransmitters

glial cells

provide scaffolding on which the nervous system is built; help neurons line up closely with each other to allow neuronal communication; provide insulation to neurons; transport nutrients and waste products; and mediate immune responses

nervous system

psychologists striving to understand the human mind may study the ___

biological perspective

psychologists who take a ___ and focus on the physiological causes of behavior assert that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter system

mood, sleep

serotonin is involved in what? (2)

modulated mood, suppressed appetite

serotonin's potential effect on behavior is what? (2)

neurons

serve as interconnected information processors that are essential for all the tasks of the nervous system

soma; axon; terminal buttons

signals from other neurons are transmitted electrically across the ___ and down a major extension known as the ___ which ends at multiple ___

neurons

the central building blocks of the nervous system; 100 billion at birth

LSD

the drug ___ is structurally very similar to serotonin and it affects the same neurons and receptors as serotonin

normal operation

the myelin sheath is crucial for the ___ of the neurons within the nervous system

glial cells and neurons

the nervous system is composed of what cell types?

input sites where signals are received from other neurons

the neuron is a small information processor, and the dendrites serve as what?

axon; terminal buttons; synaptic vesicles; neurotransmitters; synapse

the neuronal signals move rapidly down the___ to the ___ where ___ release ___ into the __

soma; cell body

the nucleus of the neuron is located where? what is this?

dendrites

the soma has branching extensions known as ___

synaptic vesicles; neurotransmitters

the terminal buttons contain ___ that house ___, the chemical messengers of the nervous system

depression has reduced serotonin levels and is treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

what would someone give a person with depression?

its associated with low levels of dopamine so dopamine agonists which mimic the effects of dopamine by binding to dopamine receptors, are one treatment strategy

what would someone give a person with parkinson's disease?

schizophrenia is associated with overactive dopamine neurotransmission so you would use antagonists for dopamine which block dopamine's effects by binding its receptors without activating them thus they prevent dopamine release by one neuron from signaling info to adjacent neurons

what would someone give a person with schizophrenia?