Term
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter based on modifications of a single amino acid nucleus, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, or dopamine. |
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| Amino Acid Neurotransmitters: |
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter that is itself an amino acid, such as GABA, glycine, or glutamate. |
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Term
| Peptide neurotransmitters |
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Definition
| A large family of neurotransmitters consisting of substances that are made up of short chains of amino acids |
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Definition
| A diffusible gas, such as nitric oxide or carbon monoxide that is produced and released by a neuron to alter the functioning of another neuron. Usually, gas neuro transmitters act at retrograde synapse. |
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Definition
| The initial in a sensory system, responsible for stimulus transduction. Examples include the hair cells in the cochlea, and the rods and cones in the retina. |
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Definition
| A receptor protein that includes an ion channel that is opened when the receptor is bound by an agonist. |
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Definition
| A type of transmitter receptor that does not contain an ion channel but may, when activated, use a G protein system to open a nearby ion channel. |
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Definition
| Any type of receptor that has functional characteristics that distinguish it from other thpes of receptors for the same neurotransmitter. For example at least 15 different subtypes of receptor molecules respond to serotonin. |
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Definition
| A substance that binds to receptor molecules, such as those at the surface of the cell. |
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Definition
- A molecule, usually a drug, that interferes with or prevents the action of a transmitter. Contrast with agonist (definition 1). 2. A muscle that counteracts the effect of another muscle. Contrast with synergist or agonist (definition 2)
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Definition
| A substance that binds to a receptor and causes it to do the opposite of a natural occurring transmitter. |
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Definition
| Here, the appearance of more than one neurotransmitter in a given presynaptic terminal. |
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Definition
| One of the best known synaptic transmitters. Acetylocholine acts as an excitatory transmitter at synapses between motor nerves and skeletal muscles but as an inhibitory transmitter between the vagus nerve and the heart muscle. |
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Definition
| Referring to cells that use acetylcholine as their synaptic transmitter |
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Definition
| Referring to cholinergic receptors that respond to nicotine. Nicotinic receptors mediate chiefly the excitatory activities of acteycholine, including at the neur-muscular junction. Contrast with muscarinic. |
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Definition
| Referring to cholinergic receptors that respond to the chemical muscarine as well as to acetylcholine. Contrast with nicotinic. |
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Definition
| A class of synergic transmitters that contain a single amino group, NH2. Examples include the catcholamines and indoleamines. |
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Definition
A class of monoamines that serve as neurotransmitters, including dopamine and norepinephrine. |
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Definition
| A class of monoamines that serve as neurotransmitters, including serotonin and melatonin. |
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Definition
| A synaptic transmitter produced mainly in the basal forebrain and diencephalons that is active in the basal ganglia, the olfactory system, and limited parts of the cerebral cortex. |
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Definition
| A set of dopamineragic axons arising in the midbrain and innervating the limbic system and cortex. |
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Definition
| A brainstem structure in humans that is related to the basal ganglia and named for its dark pigmentation. Depletion of dopaminergic cells in the region has been implicated in Parkinson’s disease. |
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Definition
| The caudate nucleus and putamen together. |
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Term
| Mesolimbocortical pathway |
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Definition
| A set of dopaminergic axons arising from the midbrain and innervating the basal ganglia, including those from the substantia nigra to the striatum. |
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Definition
| A synaptic transmitter that is produced mainly in brainstem nuclei and in the adrenal medulla. Also called noradrenaline. |
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Definition
| A small nucleus in the brainstem whose neurons produce norepinephrine and modulate large areas of the forebrain. |
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Definition
| Referring to systems using norephinephrine as a transmitter. |
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Definition
A synaptic transmitter that is produced in the raphe nuclei and is active in structures throughout the cerebral hemispheres. |
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Definition
| Referring to neurons that use serotonin as their synaptic transmitter |
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Definition
| A group of neurons in the midline of the brainstem that contains serotonin and is involved in sleep mechanisms. |
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Definition
| One of the midbrain nuclei that give rise to most of the serotonogeric projections of the brain. |
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Definition
| An amino acid transmitter, the most common excitatory transmitter. |
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Definition
| An amino acid that is excitatory at many synapses. |
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Term
| Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) |
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Definition
| Probably the major inhibitory transmitter in the mammalian nervous system; widely distributed in both invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems. |
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Definition
| An amino acid transmitter, often inhibitory. |
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Definition
| The property by which neurons die when overstimulated, as with large amounts of glutamate. |
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Definition
| A type of endogenous peptide that mimics the effects of morphine in binding to opiate receptors and producing marked analgesia and reward. |
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Definition
| The scientific field concerned with the discovery and study of compounds that selectively affect the functioning of the nervous system. |
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Definition
| Produced inside the body. Contrast with exogenous. |
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Definition
| Arising from the body. Contrast with endogenous. |
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Definition
| Theoretically, the length of time that a transmitter or drug molecule binds to a receptor molecule. Practically, the concentration of transmitter or drug molecule that is required to bind half of the receptors at equilibrium. |
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Definition
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Definition
| The extent to which a drug activates a response that binds to a receptor. Receptor antagonist drugs have low efficacy; receptor agonists have high efficacy. |
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Definition
| The ability of a drug, once bound to a receptor, to activate a receptor. |
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Definition
| In the context of pharmacology, referring to a substance that directly competes with the endogenous ligand and for binding to a receptor molecule. |
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Term
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Definition
| In the context of psychopharmacology, referring to a drug that affects a transmitter receptor while binding at a site other than that bound by the endogenous ligand. Contrast with competitive. |
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Definition
| A portion of a receptor that, when bound by a compound, alters the receptor’s response to its transmitter. |
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Definition
| A formal plot of a drug’s effects (on the y axis) versus the dose given (on the x axis). Analysis of dose-response curves can provide a range of information about the drug, such as its efficacy, potency, and safety. |
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Definition
| Collective name for the factors that affect the relationship between a drug and its target receptors, such as affinity and efficacy. |
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Definition
| Referring to the condition in which a maximal number of receptors of one type have been bound by molecules of a drug; additional doses of drug cannot produce additional binding. |
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Definition
| Effective dose 50%; the dose of a drug that is required to produce half of its maximal effect. |
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Term
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Definition
| Enhanced binding of a drug to lower-affinity receptors that occurs after the drug has saturated all of its highest-affinity receptors; secondary binding may cause side effects to become more pronounced. |
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Definition
| A condition in which, with repeated exposure to a drug, and individual becomes less responsive to a constant dose. Contrast with sensitization. |
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Definition
| The form of drug tolerance that arises when the metabolic machinery of the body becomes more efficient at clearing the drug, as a consequence of repeated exposure. |
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Definition
| Decreased responding to a drug after repeated exposures, generally as a consequence of up or down-regulation of receptors. |
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Definition
| A compensatory reduction in receptor availability at the synapses of a neuron. For example, repeated exposure to an agonist drug may cause a neuron to produce fewer of the type of receptors to which that drug binds. Contrast with up-regulation. |
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Term
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Definition
| A compensatory increase in receptor availability at the synapses of a neuron. For example, repeated exposure to an antagonist drug may cause a neuron to produce more of the type of receptors to which that drug binds. Contrast with down-regulation. |
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Term
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Definition
| A condition in which the development of tolerance for an administered drug causes an individual to develop tolerance for another drug. |
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Definition
| An uncomfortable symptom that arises when a person stops taking a drug that he or she has used frequently especially at high doses. |
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Definition
- A form of non-associative learning in which an organism becomes more responsive to most stimuli after being exposed to unusually strong or painful stimulation. Contrast with habituation.
2. A process in which the body shows an enhanced response to a given drug after repeated doses. Contrast with tolerance. |
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Definition
| Referring to a substance, usually a drug, that is present in the body in a form that is able to interact with physiological mechanisms. |
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Definition
| The process in which enzymes convert a drug into a metabolite that is itself active, possibly in ways that substantially different from the actions of the original substance. |
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Definition
| Collective name for all the factors that affect the movement of a drug into, through, and out of the body. |
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Definition
| The mechanisms that makes the movement of substances from capillaries into brain cells more difficult that exchanges in other body organs, thus affording the brain greater protection from exposure to some substances found in the blood. |
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Definition
| The movement of cellular components and other substances via physiological processes that consume energy |
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Definition
| A substance that influences the activity of synaptic transmitters. |
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Definition
| A stimulant compound found in coffee, cacao, and other plants that have evolved to protect plants against insect predators. Caffeine stimulates and causes uncoordinated behaviour in insects and inhibits their growth and reproduction. |
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Term
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Definition
| In the context of neural transmission, a neuromodulator that alters synaptic activity. Adenosine receptors are the site of action of caffeine. |
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Definition
| A receptor for a synaptic transmitter that is located in the presynaptice membrane. Autoreceptors tell the axon terminal how much transmitter has been released. |
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Definition
| A class of drugs that alleviate schizophrenia |
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Definition
| A class of antipsychotic drugs, traditionally dopamine receptor blockers. |
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Definition
| A major class of anti-schizophrenic drugs that share an antagonist activity at dopamine D2 responses. |
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Term
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Definition
| A class of antischizophrenic drugs that have actions other than the dopamine D2 receptor antagonism that characterizes the typical neuroleptics. These drugs often feature selective and high-affinity antagonism of serotonin 5HT2 receptors |
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