PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Motor Learning, Substance P

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jens C Pruessner

Document Summary

Acetylcholine (ach): responsible for motor control at the junction between nerves and muscles; also involved in mental processes such as learning, memory, sleeping and dreaming. Botulism (inhibits the release of ach, also used as botox, paralyzing muscles that cause wrinkles) Drugs that are ach antagonist may enhance memory. Four of these are called monoamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonine, and dopamine). Their major function is to control states of arousal and affect feelings and to motivate behaviour. Noreinephrine: involved in states of arousal and awareness. Serotonin: important in a wide range of psychological activity, including emotional states, impulse control, and dreaming. Low levels of serotonin are associated with sad and anxious moods, food cravings, and aggressive behaviour. Parkinson"s disease: a neurological disorder that seems to be caused by dopamine depletion (the dopamine producing neurones slowly die off) marked by muscular rigidity, tremors and difficulty initiation voluntary actions. Gaba (gamma aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory transmitter in the nervous system.