PSYC 280 Study Guide - Vasopressin, Thalamus, Blood Sugar

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 280
• Professor: John Reynolds

Document Summary

Exogenous substance: animal, vege, and mineral compounds that change the function of our body & brain (food) Many chemical neurotransmitters have been identified: criteria to be considered a neurotransmitter: Endogenous substance: substance from an internal source (eg: a neurotransmitter) Presynaptic cell contains appropriate enzymes for synthesizing the substance. Substance is released when action potential reach the terminals. Receptors that recognize the released substance exists on the postsynaptic membrane. Blocking release of the substance prevents presynaptic activity from affecting the postsynaptic cell. Amine: acetylcholine (occurs in pns & cns &alzheimer"s disease), dopamine, serotonin. Gas: diffuses b/w neurons to alter ongoing processes: neurotransmitters interact w/ receptors: protein molecules in the postsynaptic that recognizes the transmitter. Ionotropic receptor: includes an ion channel that opens when it is bound by an agonist. Metabotropic receptor: no ion channel but may when activated; uses g protein system to open ion channel. Receptor subtype: receptors have different functional characteristics ; can trigger dif responses in target cells.