PSYC 200 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Sensory Neuron, Axon Terminal, Sympathetic Nervous System

• School: University of Calgary
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 200
• Professor: Peter Van Der Velde

Document Summary

Two types: are chemicals stored within the synaptic vesicles within the terminal buttons, these types are brief. Inhibitory: lowers the probability that the axon will fire: excitatory: activated by an action potential, releases a transmitter that excites the neuron until it s(cid:455)(cid:374)apses. Makes the (cid:374)euro(cid:374) (cid:862)fire(cid:863) a(cid:374)d se(cid:374)d a(cid:374) a(cid:272)tio(cid:374) pote(cid:374)tial do(cid:449)(cid:374) their a(cid:454)o(cid:374) Drugs work by imitating our neurochemistry (receptors respond to lsd and cocaine) Addictive substances increase dopamine activity in certain areas of the brain. Olds and milner (1954) placed rats in a skinner box that allowed self stimulation by the pressing of a lever. The rats sometimes pressed it 2000 times per hour to stimulate the dopamine to be released in the nucleus accumbens at expense of other vital behaviours (such as eating and drinking) Other behaviours that release dopamine include sexual excitement, gambling, and video games, or (cid:448)ie(cid:449)i(cid:374)g (cid:862)attra(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e people(cid:863) a(cid:272)(cid:272)ordi(cid:374)g to fmri resear(cid:272)h. Many drugs are made to enhance neurotransmitter functions.