Neurotransmitters

1
Neurotransmitters

• What are they and what do they contribute to the
  nervous system functioning?

2
Neurotransmitters

• Chemical substances manufactured in the brain,
  spinal cord, glands, other parts of the body
• Located within sphere shaped containers within
  the axon terminals (Synapse diagram)
• When an action potential (electrical impulse)
  occurs and arrives at axon terminal,
  neurotransmitter (chemical) molecules are
  released into the synaptic space
• This is an electrochemical process

3
What happens once they are released?

• All neurotransmitters have a distinctive shape
  and are made to fit- like a lock and key- with
  receptor sites on the adjoining neuron
• When they join with a receptor site they either
  excite or inhibit a particular action- or cause
  an action to happen or keep it from happening
• For example.

4
Major Neurotransmitters

• 75 or more have been identified
• Acetylcholine
• Excites skeletal muscle fibers (legs running,
  body movement)
• Inhibits heart from beating too fast when running
• Stimulates neurons involved in learning new
  information- helps you to understand and store
  info in your memory

5
Other Neurotransmitters

• Dopamine Involved in learning, movement,
  reinforcement- people with Parkinsons Disease
  and schizophrenia are less sensitive to its
  effects
• Serotonin plays an important role in regulating
  mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, appetite