PSYCH 1F03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, Fluoxetine, Ksnt
31 May 2016
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Document Summary
Synaptic vesicles are located on the axon"s end feet and contain neurotransmitters. These vesicles merge with the postsynaptic membrane and travel into the synaptic cleft, where they diffuse into the postsynaptic neuron. The receptor sites are shaped like a pocket for the neurotransmitters, but they are only there for a split second. When the neurotransmitters are in the receptor sites, two different reactions can take place: the ion channels can open up and more na+ can enter, making the inside more positive. Excitatory post-synaptic potential (epsp: the ion channels can close and pump out na+, making the inside more negative. Which reaction takes place depends on the receptor site. Some end feet will produce epsps, others ipsps. A single esps isn"t enough to generate an action potential, but many together are.
