PSYC 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, Anxiolytic, Aspirin
15 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Major excitatory neurotransmitter throughout the brain: makes cells more likely to fire action potentials, when glutamate crosses the synapse, a positive change in voltage occurs (depolarization) Excess glutamate is toxic to neurons, thus is an important cause of cell death in brain diseases. Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain: makes cells less likely to fire action potentials. Drugs that enhance gaba have many clinical applications: anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, anesthesia, can reduce symptoms of anxiety. Alcohol, and many depressants, act at the gaba receptor. Enables muscle action; regulates attention, learning memory sleeping and dreaming: where its located effects what it regulates. Nerve agents commonly inhibit enzymes which degrade ach, causing a toxic buildup of ach: agonist: something that activates a neurotransmitter, antagonist: blocks receptors/channels. Botulinum toxin: weight of 1 aspirin can kill 100,000 people, widely used in dilute form for cosmetic purposes (botox, inhibits activity of ach. Involved in the regulation of sleep, mood, eating, and aggressive behavior.
