Psychology 2020A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter alcohol: Nucleus Accumbens, Knockout Mouse, Frontal Lobe

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2020A/B
• Professor: Riley Hinson

Document Summary

Alcohol seems to exert its sedative, muscle relaxant and behavioural impairing effects primarily by action on two neurotransmitter systems: gaba glutamate receptors. Gaba unit involves a gaba receptor and several other sites where most sedative-hypnotics may bind. When gaba occupies its receptor, ion channels open up and allows chloride to flow into neuron making it harder for action potentials to arise. When gaba occupies its receptor at the same time alcohol is occupying the. Satellite receptors, the ion channel remains open longer than usual allowing more chloride ions enter, making it even harder to propagate action potentials. In this way, alcohol acts like other sedative hypnotics: nmda glutamate receptors. In addition to enhancing the inhibitory action of gaba, alcohol also dampens excitatory neurotransmission mediated by ndma glutamate receptors by reducing responsiveness of these receptors to glutamate.