Neurotransmitters

Question 1

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 1

A chemical messenger released from a presynaptic neuron that crosses the synapse and binds to receptors on a postsynaptic neuron.

Question 2

Main neurotransmitter categories for ANCC

Answer 2

Monoamines, amino acids, cholinergics, neuropeptides

Question 3

Monoamines (biogenic amines) include:

Answer 3

Dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin

Question 4

Amino acid neurotransmitters include:

Answer 4

Glutamate, GABA, glycine, aspartate

Question 5

Cholinergic neurotransmitter is:

Answer 5

Acetylcholine

Question 6

Neuropeptides include:

Answer 6

Endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins (opioid peptides)

Question 7

Serotonin: main functions

Answer 7

Mood, anxiety, sleep, appetite/satiety, pain perception, impulsivity/libido modulation

Question 8

Where is serotonin produced?

Answer 8

Raphe nuclei (brainstem)

Question 9

Low serotonin is associated with:

Answer 9

Depression, anxiety disorders, OCD

Question 10

High serotonin can cause:

Answer 10

Serotonin syndrome

Question 11

Serotonin precursor is:

Answer 11

Tryptophan

Question 12

Serotonin is removed from synapse mainly by

Answer 12

Reuptake (target of SSRIs)

Question 13

Dopamine: main functions

Answer 13

Reward/pleasure, motivation, movement, attention/executive function, prolactin inhibition

Question 14

Where is dopamine produced?

Answer 14

Substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area (VTA) (also nucleus accumbens in reward circuitry)

Question 15

High dopamine is associated with:

Answer 15

Psychosis (positive symptoms)

Question 16

Low dopamine is associated with:

Answer 16

Parkinson’s disease, anhedonia, low motivation

Question 17

Dopamine was historically known as what (hormonal role)?

Answer 17

Prolactin-inhibiting factor

Question 18

If dopamine is blocked in the nigrostriatal pathway, what can occur?

Answer 18

EPS (movement side effects)

Question 19

Norepinephrine: main functions

Answer 19

Alertness, arousal, attention, “fight-or-flight,” heart rate/BP effects

Question 20

Where is norepinephrine produced?

Answer 20

Locus coeruleus (pons)

Question 21

Low norepinephrine is associated with:

Answer 21

Depression, low energy, poor concentration

Question 22

High norepinephrine is associated with:

Answer 22

Anxiety, hyperarousal, increased startle

Question 23

Epinephrine: main function

Answer 23

Fight-or-flight activation (increases HR, blood flow, alertness)

Question 24

Where is epinephrine produced?

Answer 24

Adrenal glands (adrenergic system)

Question 25

Acetylcholine: main CNS functions

Answer 25

Attention, learning, memory, arousal/wakefulness

Question 26

Where is acetylcholine synthesized (key board fact)?

Answer 26

Basal nucleus of Meynert (basal forebrain)

Question 27

Low acetylcholine is associated with:

Answer 27

Dementia/Alzheimer’s, impaired memory

Question 28

High acetylcholine is associated with:

Answer 28

Parkinsonism / EPS-type symptoms (cholinergic dominance)

Question 29

If a neuron uses acetylcholine, it is called:

Answer 29

Cholinergic neuron

Question 30

Two main acetylcholine receptor types

Answer 30

Muscarinic and nicotinic

Question 31

GABA: main function

Answer 31

Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter → calming/relaxation, reduces anxiety and seizure activity

Question 32

Low GABA is associated with:

Answer 32

Anxiety disorders, seizures

Question 33

Benzodiazepines work by doing what to GABA?

Answer 33

Potentiate GABA-A activity (increase inhibitory effect)

Question 34

GABA receptor types

Answer 34

GABA-A and GABA-B

Question 35

Glutamate: main function

Answer 35

Primary excitatory neurotransmitter; key for learning and memory

Question 36

High glutamate is associated with:

Answer 36

Anxiety, seizures, mood lability, excitotoxicity (can contribute to psychosis)

Question 37

Low glutamate is associated with:

Answer 37

Impaired memory/learning; negative symptoms (reported association)

Question 38

Key glutamate receptors (board-level)

Answer 38

NMDA and AMPA

Question 39

Endorphins: main functions

Answer 39

Pain reduction + euphoria/well-being (exercise, excite

Question 40

Low opioid peptides are associated with:

Answer 40

Substance use risk / reduced pleasure response

Question 41

Match: psychosis is most linked to high levels of which NT?

Answer 41

Dopamine (and sometimes glutamate dysregulation)

Question 42

Match: depression is classically linked to low levels of which NTs?

Answer 42

Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine (biogenic amines)

Question 43

Match: dementia is classically linked to low levels of which NT?

Answer 43

Acetylcholine

Question 44

Match: anxiety is linked to low levels of which inhibitory NT?

Answer 44

GABA

Question 45

Two criterion for a molecule to be a neurotransmitter

Answer 45

Must be present in the presynaptic terminal and released with neuron stimulation Must have a mechanism for inactivation (reuptake or metabolism)