Fundamentals
These branched cytoplasmic projections from a neuron’s cell body receive electrochemical
information from other neurons and transmit them to the cell body.
What are dendrites?
This is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and can act on virtually every neuron.
What is glutamate?
This is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord.
What is GABA?
Excessive output of this neurotransmitter is thought to
underlie anxiety, particularly the symptoms of hyperarousal, nightmares, flashbacks and panic attacks.
What is Norpinephrine?
This dopamine pathway orginates in the substantia nigra and mediates motor movements and is part of the extrapryamidal system.
What is the nigrostriatal pathway?
"NigroStriatal Pathway = iNvoluntary movements, Stuttering and Parkinsonism"
The point where the nerve terminal of one neuron meets a neighboring neuron.
What is a synapse?
This short-acting, non-competitive antagonist of the
NMDA receptor, has been shown to rapidly relieve depression.
What is ketamine?
These GABA receptors are targets of benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol.
What is GABAA?
NE is produced in this location.
What is the locus cereleus?
"Seeing Cerberus would result in a release of Norepinephrine"
This dopamine pathway is involved in the inhibition of prolactin release.
What is the tubero-infundibular
pathway?
"TuberoInfundibular Pathway = This Inhibits Prolactin"
These are fast-acting, Class I receptors that allow neurotransmitters to binds to the receptor protein and within milliseconds a change in the
permeability of the associated ion channel occurs.
What are inotropic receptors?
This NMDA antagnoist is used to treat Alzheimer's.
What is Memantine?
Partial agonism of this receptor is hypothesized to account for the reduced incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) associated with the
atypical antipsychotics.
What is 5-HT1A?
Reduced NE is thought to underlie these symptoms of depression.
This dopamine pathway is involved in cognitive function, in particular executive function.
What is the mesocortical pathway?
"Higher thought process involved, so makes sense it comes from the cortex"
These are slow-acting, Class II receptors which work through second messengers.
What are GPCRs or G- protein coupled receptors?
This street drug is an NMDA antagonist and mimics the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is PCP?
Antagonism of this receptor is hypothesized to be the mechanism by which atypical antipsychotics reduce the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is 5-HT2A?
Pre-synaptic α 2 receptors are autoreceptors
that attenuate the release of NE when an agonist binds, such as the case for these two drugs commonly used for ADHD.
What are clonidine and guanfacine?
This dopamine pathway is involved in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is the mesolimbic pathway?
"You need limbs to show positivity with a thumbs-up"
The tolerance that develops with prolonged exposure to an anxiolytic is thought to be a result of this.
What is changes in levels of ionotropic receptor gene expression via secondary messenger signaling cascades?
According to the NMDA hypothesis of schizophrenia, cortico-brainstem glutamate neurons that normally tonically inhibit this dopamine pathway are hypo-active.
What is the mesolimbic pathway?
Antagonists of this receptor, like zofran, are used for theie anti-emtetic effects.
What is 5-HT3?
THis is an α 1 receptor antagonist, used to treat nightmares and hypervigilance associated with
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), both of which are thought to be the result of excess adrenergic tone.
What is Prazosin?
Certain atypical antipsychotics, such as olanzapine and clozapine, block these receptors and reduce insulin release, which might explain some of the metabolic side effects of these medications
What is M3?