Neurotransmitters & Receptors
This neurotransmitter is the most widespread inhibitory transmitter in the brain.
GABA
This stimulant blocks dopamine reuptake, causing dopamine levels to rise in the synapse.
What is cocaine?
This dopamine-rich midbrain area is a major source of drug reward.
What is the ventral tegmental area (VTA)?
This disorder includes symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, known as "positive symptoms."
What is schizophrenia?
This type of memory involves recalling personal life events.
episodic memory
This type of receptor is ionotropic, fast-acting, and used by ACh at the neuromuscular junction.
What is the nicotinic receptor?
These drugs mimic endogenous opioids and bind to receptors in the periaqueductal gray to reduce pain.
What are opiates (e.g., morphine, heroin)
This pathway carries dopamine from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens.
What is the mesolimbic dopamine pathway?
These antipsychotic drugs act as D₂ receptor antagonists
What are typical neuroleptics (e.g., haloperidol)?
H.M. suffered from this type of amnesia after hippocampal removal
What is anterograde amnesia?
These receptors work through G-proteins and second messengers and are targeted by most drugs.
What are metabotropic receptors?
This ADHD medication class increases dopamine/norepinephrine availability, improving prefrontal function
What are amphetamine-like stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin)?
This molecular change in cocaine addicts accumulates slowly and drives craving and relapse.
What is ΔFosB upregulation?
This hypothesis suggests schizophrenia results from excess dopamine signaling
What is the dopamine hypothesis?
This structure is essential for forming new declarative memories but does NOT store them long-term.
What is the hippocampus?
This neuromodulator builds up during wakefulness to make you sleepy; caffeine blocks its receptor.
What is adenosine?
This psychedelic drug is a serotonin agonist that alters sensory perception.
What is LSD
Addiction and withdrawal are mediated by different brain structures. Name one for each
Addiction → VTA
Withdrawal → periaqueductal gray
This birth-related environmental factor increases the risk for schizophrenia.
What is the winter birth effect / prenatal influenza exposure?
This process strengthens synapses after high-frequency stimulation (“neurons that fire together wire together”).
What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?
These two endocannabinoids act as retrograde messengers and activate CB1 receptors.
What are anandamide and 2-AG?
Name one of the three main ways drugs can alter synaptic transmission presynaptically.
Answer:
Alter transmitter synthesis
Block or stimulate release
Block reuptake
This treatment strategy mimics a drug’s effects but in a milder form (methadone).
What is an agonistic treatment?
This type of antidepressant blocks serotonin reuptake and has fewer side effects than tricyclics.
What are SSRIs?
These two glutamate receptors are essential for LTP, with one requiring Mg²⁺ removal to open.
What are AMPA and NMDA receptors?