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Neurotransmitter Function Examples of Malfunctions: Common Neurotransmitters - KEY

This document summarizes common neurotransmitters, their functions, and examples of malfunctions associated with irregular levels of each neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine enables muscle action, learning, and memory, and its deficiency is linked to Alzheimer's and its excess to conditions like botulism. Dopamine influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion, and its excess or deficiency is associated with disorders like schizophrenia and Parkinson's. Serotonin affects mood, sleep, and arousal, and its irregular levels can cause mood disorders, insomnia, and OCD.

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518 views

Neurotransmitter Function Examples of Malfunctions: Common Neurotransmitters - KEY

This document summarizes common neurotransmitters, their functions, and examples of malfunctions associated with irregular levels of each neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine enables muscle action, learning, and memory, and its deficiency is linked to Alzheimer's and its excess to conditions like botulism. Dopamine influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion, and its excess or deficiency is associated with disorders like schizophrenia and Parkinson's. Serotonin affects mood, sleep, and arousal, and its irregular levels can cause mood disorders, insomnia, and OCD.

Uploaded by

idjacobs
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Common Neurotransmitters - KEY

Neurotransmitter

Function

Examples of Malfunctions

Acetylcholine (Ach)

Enables Muscle Action (movement),


Learning, Memory

Alzheimers disease: too little effects


memory, Ach-producing neurons deteriorate
in hippocampus deteriorate causing memory
problems

Excitatory

Botulism poison blocks Ach leads to paralyze


of respiratory muscles
Black Widow bite too much - muscles in
violent convulsions

Dopamine
Inhibitory

Influences movement, learning,


attention, and emotion
Movement and reward
Strongly associated with reward
mechanisms in brain

Excess dopamine receptor activity linked to


schizophrenia (positive symptoms)
Starved of dopamine, the brain produces
tremors and decreased mobility of
Parkinsons disease

Play part of rewarding property in


drugs like cocaine, alcohol, opium,
heroin, nicotine THESE
INCREASE DOPAMINE

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and


arousal, impulsivity

Inhibitory

Undersupply linked OCD, anxiety, mood


disorders(depression), anger control,
insomnia, and suicide
Prozac and other antidepressant increase
serotonin levels
Drink warm milk at night help you sleep
because contains and amino acid that brain
uses to make serotonin (relax)
Plays a role in schizophrenia, may interact
with dopamine system to alter the way it
operates.

Norepinephrine
Excitatory

Aka Noradrenaline

Helps control alertness and arousal


Mood, sleep, learning

*Role in perception: LSD attaches to


serotonin receptor cites blocking perceptual
paths
Undersupply can depress mood
Oversupply insomnia

Increases heart rate and slows


digestion during stress

Common Neurotransmitters - KEY

Neurotransmitter
GABA (gammaaminobutyric acid)
Inhibitory

Function

Examples of Malfunctions

A major (best known) inhibitory


neurotransmitter

Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and


insomnia

Sleep; movement

Anxiety, Huntingtons disease, epilepsy

Seems needed to keep neuron


activity in check

Too little GABA also may be anxiety drugs


Valium works by enhancing effects of GABA
Too little GABA in some brain areas can be
epilepsy

Glutamate
Excitatory

Major excitatory neurotransmitter


Involved in memory
Most common in CNS as much as
of all brain neurons
CuriouslyActually toxic to neurons
and an excess will kill them

Oversupply over stimulate brain leading to


migraines or seizures (why some avoid
MSG, monosodium glutamate, in food)
Damage after stroke
Sometimes brain damage or stroke leads to
excess and many more brain cells die than
from original trauma
ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease) excessive
glutamate production.
Schizophrenia lack of glutamate
production. (negative symptoms)
Many neurologists feel this is responsible for
many CNS diseases

Endorphins
(endogenous
(produced within)
morphine)

Released in response to pain or


vigorous exercise

If brain is flooded with opiates like heroin


and morphine the brain may stop producing
these natural opiates

Pain control

Short for Endogenous


morphine built in
morphine
Structurally similar to heroin and has
similar functions: pain reduction,
pleasure
Opiods work by attaching at
endorphin receptor site
AGONISTS

Lack of no established disorder


This is the neurotransmitter responsible for
allowing bears and other animals to
hibernate. Heroin slows heart rate,
respiration, and metabolism in general
exactly what you need to hibernate if you
were a bear. Heroin can slow it to nothing
death or Permanent Hibernation

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