PSYCH 220 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Axon Terminal, Basal Forebrain, Nitric Oxide
Document Summary
Chapter 4: the chemistry of behavior: neurotransmitters and neuropharmacology. Types of synapses: axo-dendritic the axon terminal synapses on a dendrite, axo-somatic synapse between axon and cell body (soma) Inhibitory potentials more likely: axo-axonic synapse between two axons, dendro-dendrtic synapse between two dendrites. Neurons process information through electrical responses: release a chemical into a synapse to inform the next cell. Presynaptic neuron releases an endogenous substance (a neurotransmitter: endogenous produced internally from within the cell body, exogenous substances substances from external sources. Used to change the functioning of the brain and body. Action potential moves down the axons to the axon terminal at the presynaptic side of the synapse. Exocytosis action potentials cause vesicles to release the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitter receptors molecules bind to the membrane of the postsynaptic cell: lock and key the neurotransmitter must bind to its specific receptor.
