PSY 324 Lecture 4: Week 4 - Neurotransmitters
13 Dec 2011
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Document Summary
In the brain, most synaptic communication is accomplished by two neurotransmitters: one with excitatory effects (glutamine) and one with inhibitory effects (gaba). Another inhibitory neurotransmitter is found in the spinal cord and lower brain stem, glycine. All other neurotransmitters have modulating effects rather than information-transmitting effects. That is, the release of neurotransmitter other than glutamate or gaba tends to activate or inhibit entire circuits of neurons that are involved in particular brain functions. Example: acetylcholine activates the cerebral cortex which stimulates learning, but the information that is learned and remembered is transmitted by neurons that secrete glutamate and gaba. Primary neurotransmitter secreted by efferent axons of the central nervous system. All muscular movement is accomplished by the release of acetylcholine, and ach is also found in the ganglia of the autonomic nervous system and at the target organs of the parasympathetic branch of the ans. Control electrical rhythms of the hippocampus (which includes memory formation).
