PSYC 462 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Adenylyl Cyclase, Tricyclic Antidepressant, Autoreceptor
Document Summary
Methylphenidate (ritalin) a stimulant but technically not an amphetamine: enzymes involved in degradation. Mao found more widespread in the brain: ne and da metabolites(by-products of transmitter metabolism) can be collected in the cerebrospinal fluid(csf), thus they can be used to measure the level of catecholamine activity in the brain. Da anatomy and functions(i: dopamine is the precursor to ne, nigrostriatal da system a9 axons, functions of da. Pleasure includes hedonic sensation but da is more involved in the process of motivation for reward rather than liking the reward. Opioids are actually more involved in this liking: mesocortical da system. Excessive amount of activation is detrimental to cognitive functions. D1-like and d2-like receptors have structural differences. D2 activation reduces adenylyl cyclase and camp synthesis. There is an interaction between d1 and d2 receptors. D1 receptors promote appropriate actions and d2 receptors inhibit inappropriate actions. D3 receptors are not found in the prefrontal cortex(pfc) but located in subcortical regions.
