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Unit 3 - Written Assignment: How Neurons Send and Receive Signals

Raven N. Potters

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

BA360 B-REM Neuropsychology

Professor Elizabeth Matthews

November 4, 2024
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Different Neurotransmitters

There are four designated classes of different sizes with different functions of

neurotransmitters within the human brain. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021) The larger molecule

neurotransmitters are known as neuropeptides. Next the small molecule neurotransmitter’s class

consists of three different types of molecules known as amino acids, acetylcholine and

monoamines. Finally, the last class is unconventional neurotransmitters that are also small

molecules that move in unconventional ways when compared to other small molecule

neurotransmitters. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

Amino acid neurotransmitters have four closely examined types. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

One is gamma-aminobutyric acid also known as GABA for short. This is a neurotransmitter that

is produced when the structure of a glutamate molecule is modified through synthesizing. A

structure of glutamates is an excitatory neurotransmitter located in the mammalian central

nervous system. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter with excitatory functions in few

synapses. Also, glutamate, aspartate and glycine can be found in proteins that we intake

commonly. All of these molecules are small in size. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

Monoamine neurotransmitters are also small in size coming from a single amino acid but

are larger than the amino acid that it is originally synthesized from. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

Stationed in the brain stem and clusters of neurons. Serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine and

dopamine are monoamine neurotransmitters that are placed into two different divisions such as

catecholamines and indolamines. The category of catecholamines consists of the monoamine

neurotransmitters that get synthesized from tyrosine, a type of amino acid that is smaller in size

of what it produces, such as dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Serotonin is a

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monoamine that is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan placing it into the category of

indolamines. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter small in size that is produced when acetyl molecule

converges with a choline molecule. The location of this neurotransmitter is in several synapses

within the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system and well as at neuromuscular

junctions. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

Another set of classes is the unconventional neurotransmitters that do not function in the

same way as the others. Soluble-gas neurotransmitters consist of nitric oxide and carbon

monoxide. Soluble-gas neurotransmitters also partake in retrograde transmission, a function that

is stated in our textbook to regulate the activity of presynaptic neurons. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

The second class in unconventional neurotransmitters is endocannabinoids. Two types of these

endocannabinoids’ neurotransmitters have been found so far and one is known as anandamide.

Which is similar to soluble gases due to the fact that they are produced before they are released

as stated in our text. (Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

The last class of neurotransmitters are larger molecules neurotransmitters known as

Neuropeptides. This class is divided into five categories due to three categories having different

functions more than just being neurotransmitters. These are the five categories: pituitary

peptides, hypothalamic peptides, brain-gut peptides, opioid peptides and miscellaneous peptides.

(Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

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The way drugs influence synaptic transmission is by either restricting it or enhancing it.

As stated in our textbook when substances enhance certain narrow transmitters are known as

agonists. Whereas substances that restrict certain neurotransmitters are known as antagonists.

(Pinel & Barnes, 2021)

How Drugs Influence Neurotransmission

While looking for a peer reviewed article that discusses the way drugs influence

neurotransmitters, I came across an article entitled “Understanding the Mechanisms of Action

and Effects of Drug Abuse” (2023) It is discussed drugs influence on behavior and its

biochemical effects as well. When it comes to the behavioral effects of alcohol consumption it is

a depressant that lowers inhibition with moderate intake. (Ciuca Anghel et al., 2023) Although

when ingested in large amounts the cerebellum and brain stem are affected causing aggression

and mood swings. The biochemical effects of this substance increase GABAergic

neurotransmission and restrict the excitatory receptors within the reward system neuropeptides

restrict dopamine release. (Ciuca Anghel et al., 2023)

The behavioral effects of Opioids increase dopamine levels which result in continuous

substance abuse, creating addictive behavior in search of euphoria. The biochemical effects of

this substance causes the restriction of dopaminergic neurons within the reward system. (Ciuca

Anghel et al., 2023) The behavioral effects of Amphetamines facilitate a reward system that is a

synaptic dopamine increase that increases an alertness and reduces fatigue. The biochemical

effects of this substance within methamphetamine raise synaptic levels of neurotransmitters but

inactivates their movement of monoamines and restricts dopamine synthesis. (Ciuca Anghel et

al., 2023)
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References

Ciucă Anghel, D. M., Nițescu, G. V., Tiron, A. T., Guțu, C. M., & Baconi, D. L. (2023).

Understanding the Mechanisms of Action and Effects of Drugs of Abuse. Molecules

(Basel, Switzerland), 28(13), 4969. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28134969

Pinel, J.P., & Barnes, S.J. (2021) Revel biopsychology (11th ed.). Pearson https://revel-

ise.pearson.com/courses/670863e85f563d74061de3f0/pages/

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