PSYC 318 Midterm: midterm1 notes
15 Jun 2016
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Document Summary
Most of our behaviours are generated somewhat randomly at first. Our likelihood of repeating those actions typically depends on whether or not they were reinforced. This process is known as reinforcement learning: thoughtful, reflective decisions rely on intricate models of the world that we create in our head. Synapses can form anywhere between axon terminals and: dendrites, dendritic spines, the soma, other axon terminals, at presynaptic terminals, electrical signals are transformed into chemical signals, neurons typically express tons of different kinds of neurotransmitter receptors. However, they typically only release a few different kinds of neurotransmitters from their own axon terminals. More than 99. 9% of neurons use one of these two neurotransmitters. In addition, many neurons also release a neuromodulator or neuropeptide: glutamate, gaba. Excitatory, induces excitatory post-synaptic currents (epscs), which results in membrane depolarization and perhaps an action potential. Inhibitory; induces inhibitory post-synaptic currents (ipscs), which results in membrane hyperpolarization. Agonists: anesthetics, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants (alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines)
