2.  Action Potentials (AP) release
neurotransmitters (NTs) in the synapse

3.  Body must be able to produce the chemical
(endogenous)
 Must be produced by the neuron
 When a neuron is stimulated, a chemical is
released
 Chemical must act upon a receptor to
produce an effect

5.  Major excitatory NT
 Excess of glutamate can lead to
hyperexcitation  seizure
 NMDA Receptor
 AMPA and Kainate Receptor

6.  Major inhibitory NT
 Deficit in GABA may lead
to lack of inhibition 
seizure (hyperexcitability
or excitotoxicity)
GABA

8.  Open chloride channels
 Produces more profound sedative effects
 Anti-convulsant
 GABAA Receptor Agonist

9.  Benzodiazepene agonist
 Cerebellum has a lot of GABAa
receptors
 Rats have been tested using
the rotorod test

10.  Dopamine agonist leads to increase in
pleasure, addiction, aggression
 Dorsal vs.Ventral Pathways
 D1 vs. D2 Receptors
 D1- Postsynaptic
 D2- Autoreceptor

11.  Binds DA transporter and blocks DA
reuptake, which increases synaptic DA
 Produces motor activation, reward,
motivational, hedonic effects
 Sensitization

12.  Causes DA transporter to
release DA, blocks
reuptake
 Non-selective, so causes
release of DA, NE, and
5HT
 Used for ADHD

13.  Found in locus coeruleus (LC)
 Involved in attention and arousal,
sympathetic nervous system
activation
 α2 vs. β receptors
 α2- Autoreceptor
 β- Blocks NE

14.  Found in the raphe nucleus of
midbrain
 Deficit of 5HT can lead to
depression
 REM sleep deprivation can be
used to treat severe depression
short term

15.  5HT1a
 Predominant autoreceptor that works
through GPCR
 5HT2a
 Predominant postsynaptic receptor
that works through GPCR
 LSD (5HT2a agonist) produces
sensory disturbances, hedonic and
panic effects, and hallucinations

16.  Prozac, Zoloft
 Many SSRIs have bad withdrawal symptoms
like severe vertigo and nausea
 Many antidepressants have increased suicide
at onset primarily in younger population
(within 2-3 weeks of drug use)

17.  Found in the nucleus basalis and
projects to the cortex
 Important for cognition and
muscle contraction
Acetyl CoA + Choline
Choline + Acetate
Acetylcholine + Coenzyme A
Choline transferase
Acetylcholineesterase (ACE)

19.  Ligand gated ion channel
 Found in the peripheral NS (skeletal
muscle)
 Nicotinic antagonist (curare) causes
muscle paralysis @ NMJ
 Nicotinic agonist increases muscle
tension and causes tremors

21.  Inhibitory receptor
 Muscarinic agonist produces pupil
constriction, diarrhea, and increase in GI
activity (activates parasympathetic activity)
 Muscarinic antagonist (scopolamine) used to
treat diarrhea (block parasympathetic
activity)

22.  InhibitsACh release
 Toxin is very stable
 Causes paralysis of the
diaphragm

23.  Have their own GPCR, meaning that there are
lots of receptors
 Coexist with small molecule NT
 Endorphins/enkephalins
 Corticotropin Release Factor (CRF)

25.  Secreted by neurons in hypothalamus to
stimulateACTH release from anterior
pituitary
 Amygdala  PAG  hypothalamus 
activates sympathetic NS
 CRF antagonist is anxiolytic
 CRF is elevated in most depressed individuals

26.  Endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide and
2AG)
 Cannot be packaged, synthesized and
released on demand
 Cannabinoid receptor CB1
 CB1 agonist
 Orexogenic, rewarding, affects timing behavior,
analgesic

27.  Important
second
messenger
 Viagra