Dopamine
1. Deficit associated with Parkinson’s disease; excess associated with schizophrenia.
2. Related to the experience of pleasure and reward.
3. Abnormally high levels in some parts of the brain have been linked to schizophrenia.
4. Synthesized by a part of the brain called the substantia niagra, or “black substance.”
5. Follows pathways that lead either to the nucleus accumbens or the basal ganglia.
6. Is released when a person enjoys her food, falls in love, or listens to his favorite music.
7. Related to Parkinson’s disease, a disorder characterized by uncontrollable tremors.
8. Involved in motor control and planning.
9. Activation of receptors leads to eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty, or having sex when aroused.
10. Addictive drugs may serve as agonists of this transmitter.
11. Cocaine blocks the reuptake of this transmitter into presynaptic vesicles.
12. Involved in controlling voluntary muscle movements.
13. Olds and Milner found rats will press a lever for hours to stimulate regions related to this transmitter.
14. Drugs to treat schizophrenia often inhibit production of this chemical.
GABA
1. May be the primary mechanism by which alcohol interferes with motor coordination.
2. Is the most widely distributed inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
3. Abnormal functioning may lead to epileptic seizures.
4. Works to hyperpolarize postsynaptic membranes.
5. Benzodiazepines assist this chemical in binding with one of its primary receptors.
6. Has the opposite effect of glutamate.
7. Is extremely important in the regulation of anxiety.
8. Ethyl alcohol makes people feel relaxed and less inhibited by increasing production of this transmitter.
9. Xanax and Valium work by increasing production of this chemical.
10. Reduces the likelihood that postsynaptic neurons will fire an action potential.
11. Malfunctioning of this system is related to Huntington’s disease, dementia, and epilepsy.
12. Tranquilizers and barbiturates increase this transmitter’s anxiety-controlling effect.
Norepinephrine
1. Is the same chemical as the hormone noradrenaline.
2. Increases mental arousal and alertness.
3. Leads to physical arousal – increased heart rate and blood pressure.
4. Unusually low levels of this chemical are related to ADHD.
5. Triggers physiological arousal, particularly in danger situations.
6. Related to anxiety, fear, and emotional arousal.
7. Especially important for vigilance, a heightened sensitivity to what is going on around you.
8. Occurs in both the central and peripheral nervous systems – contributing to arousal in both places.
9. Closely related to epinephrine (or adrenaline).
10. Approximately half of all this chemical in the brain is located in the cells of the locus coeruleus.
11. Involved in wakefulness and sleep, in learning, and in the regulation of mood.
Acetylcholine
1. Involved in complex mental processes such as learning, memory, and dreaming.
2. Diminished functioning is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Agonists of this chemical may enhance memory.
4. Botulism inhibits the release of this chemical and leads to trouble breathing and chewing (possible death).
5. Toxins that mimic this chemical can cause temporary paralysis.
6. Rats show increased activity of this chemical while learning to discriminate one stimulus from another.
7. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease show depletion of this chemical.
8. The first neurotransmitter discovered.
9. This chemical is found in all motor neurons.
10. All movement involves this transmitter.
11. Is important in learning, memory, and general intellectual functioning.
12. The poison Curare prevents this transmitter from binding to receptor sites (causing paralysis).
13. Is normally prevalent in the hypothalamus, a structure involved in the formation of memories.
14. Availability of this chemical is inversely related to memory formation.
15. This chemical allows us to walk, talk, blink our eyes, and walk.
16. The venom of the black widow spider causes receptors to be flooded (severe muscle contractions).
17. A sharp reduction in the supply of this neurotransmitter causes Alzheimer’s disease.
Endorphins
1. This chemical elevates mood and reduces pain.
2. Is responsible for the “runners high” athletes sometimes report after a prolonged period of exercise.
3. The contraction of endogenous morphine.
4. The analgesic effect of this chemical allows humans to perform better when they are in pain.
5. Morphine is an agonist for this chemical.
6. The transmitter largely responsible for the placebo effect.
7. Associated with euphoric moods.
8. This chemical inhibits the release of substance P.
9. Premenstrual pain is associated with low levels of this transmitter.
10. Levels of this transmitter rise in response to vigorous exercise.
11. Related to the positive effects of acupuncture.
Epinephrine
1. Is the same chemical as the hormone adrenaline.
2. Is involved in anxiety, fear, and emotional arousal – “Wow! What an adrenaline rush!”
3. Is produced in the brain and the adrenal glands (adrenaline rush).
4. Is found primarily in the body, and causes a burst of energy.
5. Closely related to norepinephrine (or noradrenaline).
6. Increases blood pressure by increasing heart rate and blood flow.
7. Increases ANS activity; fight-or-flight response.
8. Is found primarily in the body, although small amounts are in the brain (initially called adrenaline).
Glutamate
1. Is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
2. It is used by more neurons than any other neurotransmitter.
3. Synapses for this neurotransmitter are especially plentiful in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.
4. Overactivity of this transmitter is the main cause of brain damage during a stroke.
5. This transmitter can “excite neurons to death.”
6. It may be the root of all learning.
7. The MSG in Chinese food activates receptors for this transmitter.
8. It opens sodium gates in postsynaptic membranes and causes depolarization.
9. Receptors for this chemical aid learning and memory by strengthening synaptic connections.
10. This chemical facilitates migration of neurons to different sites in the brain (early brain development).
11. It plays a major role in the ability of the brain to “strengthen” its synaptic connections.
Serotonin
1. Is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, eating, arousal, and pain.
2. A decrease in this transmitter is common in severe depression.
3. SSRIs increase the duration of activation of this chemical in the synapse by blocking reuptake.
4. It is especially important for emotional states, impulse control, and dreaming.
5. Low levels of this transmitter are associated with sad and anxious moods, food cravings, and aggressive behavior.
6. Is somewhat related or like norepinephrine (both affect sleep and mood).
7. Low levels of this chemical are common in suicide victims.
8. Related to depressed mood, self-directed aggression, and impulsivity.
9. It appears to be related to arousal and sleep as well as to regulation of mood, appetite, and sensitivity to pain.
10. Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac all work to inhibit the reuptake of this chemical.