Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Snakebite, Sensory Cortex, Endorphins

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Laura Fazakas- De Hoog

Document Summary

Shift in electrical charge travels along the neuron. Neurotransmitters - chemical messenger that diffuse across synapses & activate receptor sites on adjacent cells. Excitatory cause depolarization (less negative inside) cause inflow of sodium or other (+ ions). Inhibitory more hyperpolarization (more negative inside) (+ ions) flow out & (- ions) flow in. Synaptic transmission: action potential travels down axon to terminal. Stimulates release: molecules travel across synapse to bind with receptor sites on dendrites of post. Neurotransmitters: monoamines - share similar chemical building blocks. Important for regulating cognitive function, emotion, learning, & movement. Frontal cortex, hypothalamus & limbic system (learning, memory, regulating emotion) & basal ganglia (regulated movement) can be excitatory or inhibitory. 2-a) norepinephrine - derived from epinephrine (adrenaline). excitatory or inhibitory throughout brain & spinal cord. Excitatory at brain & neuromuscular junctions involved in muscle movement, learning, & memory. Alcohol decreases glutamate and increases gaba: endorphins. Produced naturally by brain, especially during periods of stress and anxiety.