Synapses

1. Mind, Brain and Behavior PSYC 2600
Lecture: Synapses

2. Synapses
Presynaptic neuron
Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic neuron

3. Neurotransmitters
Neurons produce (synthesize) and store transmitter substances
Transmitters are stored in vesicles located in the axon terminals

4. Release ofTransmitter
dock
fusion pores

5. Postsynaptic Events: Neurotransmitter - Receptor
Tra
chemically binds receptor site
“lock and key”
transmitter is the key
receptor is the lock
an ion gate

6. Postsynaptic Events: DendriteVoltage
dendrite ion gates
postsynaptic potential
positive excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
negative inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

7. Removal of neurotransmitter
Reuptake
Enzymatic Deactivation

8. Types of Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Glutamate
GABA

9. Acetylcholine (ACh)
neuromuscular junction
nucleus basalis
cortex
memory

10. Dopamine (DA)
Nigrostriatal DA System
substantia nigra
striatum
movement
Forebrain DA System
ventral tegmentum
nucleus accumbens
prefrontal cortex
reward
cognition

11. Serotonin 5-HT (type of monoamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine)
raphe nuclei
cortex
mood

12. Glutamate (Gla)
GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid)