PY - Psychology PY 100S Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Autonomic Nervous System, Midbrain, Hypothalamus
20 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Action potential an electrochemical pulse that shoots down the axon: allows signaling between neurons. Acetylcholine- first molecule to be identified as a neurotransmitter; movement, memory, heartbeat, digestion. Norepinephrine- affects sleeping, wakefulness, learning, mood and vigilance; implicated in depression. Affects aggression, mood, impulsivity; also plays a role in depression. Involved in parkinson"s disease (lack of) and schizophrenia (excess), drug addiction. Gaba- gamma-amino butyric acid; is the body"s main inhibitory neurotransmitter (slows, inhibits); sleep, movement. Glutamate- most widely used neurotransmitter in the body; strengthens synaptic connections; excitatory; learning and memory. Can affect chemical reactions inside another cell: example: nitric oxide is not stored in vesicles like most other neurotransmitters; can be released from any part of the neuron, penile erection and memory formation. Low doses: initially effects are pleasurable; increased alertness, motor hyperactivity, euphoria, enhanced self-conciousness, immediate effects last about 30 minutes followed by 60-90 minutes of mixed low level euphoria and anxiety, followed by a protracted anxious state.
