PSY 2301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Central Nervous System, Serotonergic, Dopaminergic
16 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Neural pathways that coordinate brain activity through a single neurotransmitter. Cell bodies are located in a nucleus in the brainstem and their axons are distributed widely through the brain. Degenerative brain disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, slowed movement. Death of da-producing cells within substantial nigra. Not the cause but could be a trigger. Genetics loads the gun, the environment pulls the trigger . No cure as of yet, only the ability to slow down the disease and make things easier for those who have it. Treating the symptoms not curing the disease. Despite a common site of damage symptoms vary enormously among people. Many symptoms resemble the changes in motor activity and cognition that take place as a consequence of aging. Festination: tendency to engage in a behaviour, such as walking, at faster and faster speeds. No cure, but treatment can slow the decline. Increasing the activity in whatever dopamine synapses remain.
