1. Nt release into synapse

2. Nt binds to receptors (on dendrites)

3. Nt transported back into neuron that replaced it (reuptake)

4. Nt broken down by enzymes in synapse or in presynaptic neuron (nt inactivated); enzymatic degradation

whether nt (+) or nt (-) depends on receptor/ion channel it activates

(+) charged ions, neuron is excited (depolarization) Excited Post Synaptic Potential (EPSP)

(-) charged ions, neuron is inhibited (inhibitory post synaptic potential), hyper polarization

Necessary for movement, released from motor neurons, binds to ACh receptors on muscles>muscles contract (neuro-muscualr junction)

Promotes learning and memory (e.g., Alzheimers Disease)

Monoamine

Increases alertness to environment

Fight and flight response

Monoamine

Control of sleep/wake cycles (increases wakefulness)

effects mood and depression

Dopamine

Monoamine

Increases mood and motivation

Small subcortal area on mesolimbic pathway

Rich in dopamine

Critical in rewarding properties of drugs

("endogenous morphines")

Pain control, relaxed mood

morphine, heroin, oxycontin mimic this nt

M-mu-endorphin-> "runner's high"

d-delta-enkephalin

K-kappa-dynorphin

Very fast acting; ubiquitous (everywhere) nt's

Amino Acid

most common (-) nt

alcohol, barbiturates, benzo's enhance (zanex)

most common (+) nt (PCP blocks)

dissociative anesthetic

Amphetamine increase monoamine release, and block reuptake

Cocaine doesn't increase monoamine release, but blocks reuptake

Binds to nt's receptors or to the adjacent site

ENHANCE nt effect by mimcking nt, or by enhancing binding of nt to its receptors

BROADER DEF: Any drug that enhances nt effect, either by acting at binding stage, or by inhibiting reuptake or enzymatic degradation

ALL result in enhanged NT effect

Nicotine binds to ACh receptors, mimics ACh

Heroin binds to opiod receptors, mimics ACh

Valium binds to site adjacent to GABA site, enhancing GABA binding to GABA receptor

Binds to receptors but has no effect by itself (doesn't mimic nt)

Simply blocks nt binding

INHIBITS nt binding

Haldol blocks DA receptors (DA antagonist)

Curare blocks ACh receptors (ACh antagonist)

PCP blocks glutamine receptors

Drugs that prevent reuptake or nt

So nt stays in synapse longer

Cocaine prevents reuptake of monoamines

Prozac specifically prevents 5-HT reuptake (SSRI)

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors block the enzyme AChE

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors prevent breakdown of monoamine by monamine oxidase

Sensory nerves motor nerves, and automatic nervous system

Part of PNS

Sensory in and motor out

two branches: sympathetic and parasympathetic

Branch of the ANS that is activated during emotional arousal 

Energy expending-> fight/flight

Branch of the ANS that is responsible for lowering heart rate and blood pressure (ACh-releasing)

Energy conserving> recovery, maintenance

Contains the brain and spinal cord

Three major divisions of the brain (hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain)

Part of hindbrain

Autonomic, basic life support functions (breathing, heartbeat, digestion, swallow, cough, vomit, sneeze)

Part of hindbrain

Soma of "reticular activating" neurons responsible for alertness to:

1. External Events: locus ceruleus (NE-release)

2. Internal (sleep/wake) Cycle: Raphe (5_HT-release)

Part of hindbrain

Pain modulation, freezing behavior, (opiods bind here)

part of midbrain

Speed of movement (DA releasing)

Damage/disease can result in Parkinson's Disease

Sensory and motor 

"Relay station"

part of Forebrain

Movement (planning of our movement)

Damage/disease can result in Hunington's Disease (loss of GABA)

"4 F's" 

Sympathetic NS activation starts here

feeding, fighting, fleeing, fucking

Part of Forebrain

Emotion, particularly anger and fear

Part of Forebrain

Declarative learning/memory (e.g. H.M.)

memory that we can recall

e.g. Where did I park my car?

Drew Barrymore 50 first dates

Part of Forebrain

AKA Cerebral cortex or Cerebral Hemispheres

Contains 4 Lobes

Simple visual perception

Part of Cerebrum/ Forebrain

Complex visual perception (back)

Somatosensory perception (front)

Primary-> Complex Association Area

Part of Cerebrum/ Forebrain

Planning/control of conscious movement (motor cortex;back)

Decision making/reasoning (prefrontal cortex=PFC; front)

Part of Cerebrum/Forebrain

"Every action produces equal and opposite reaction"

The more regularly a drug is used, the less the "high" is

Change in "hedonic setpoint" over time

Hedonic: pursuit of pleasure

Allostasis (the ability of a system to dynamically adopt varying states to accommodate changing demand)

E.g., chronic morphine shrinks neurons

E.g., Methamphetamine damages axon terminals (terminal buttons)