Neurotransmitters

• what is the nervous system made up of?

  electrically excitable interconnected cells (neurons)
• what is the process of neurons communicating called?

  synaptic transmission
• what is the first step of electric transmission?

  electrical impulse travels down axon of presynaptic neuron
• what happens when the electrical impulse reaches the axon terminal?

  triggers the release of neurotransmitter from presynaptic neuron
• what is a neurotransmitter?

  chemical message
• where do the neurotransmitter travel?

  across synapse until it reaches specialised receptors
• where are the specialised receptors located?

  end of dendrites on postsynaptic neuron
• what happens at the end of synaptic transmission?

  the impulse is converted back to electrical & process repeats
• what is the example for neurotransmitters?

  mental health
• what are the 2 examples for mental health?

  depression

  schizophrenia
• what is serotonin in charge of?

  regulation of mood, appetite & sleep
• what is the cause of depression?

  low levels of serotonin
• how do some antidepression medications work?

  increase availability of serotonin at postsynaptic receptor sites
• what has been associated with schizophrenia?

  high levels of dopamine
• what has been found to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia?

  drugs that block dopamine activity