synaptic transmission

• What is the biological structure that is important in biological psychology?

  The synapse
• How does the synapse help in understanding psychoactive drugs?

  It explains how information is passed and how drugs affect brain function
• What is synaptic transmission?

  • The process where information is passed between neurons
  • Involves electrical impulses and chemical messages (neurotransmitters)
  • Occurs at the synapse
• What is the gap between two neurons called?

  The synaptic cleft
• What is the size of the synaptic cleft?

  About 20 to 40 nanometers
• What are the chemicals called that transmit signals across the synapse?

  Neurotransmitters
• What happens when an action potential reaches the axon terminal?

  It causes vesicles to merge with the membrane and release neurotransmitters
• What is the role of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron?

  They detect the presence of neurotransmitters
• What is summation in the context of synaptic transmission?

  It is the process of adding and subtracting excitatory and inhibitory influences
• What happens during depolarization in the postsynaptic neuron?

  Positively charged sodium ions enter the cell, making it more positive
• What effect do excitatory neurotransmitters have on the postsynaptic neuron?

  They make the formation of a new action potential more likely
• What effect do inhibitory neurotransmitters have on the postsynaptic neuron?

  They make the formation of a new action potential less likely
• What is the typical firing rate of a neuron?

  Between 5 and 50 times a second
• What is the function of SSRIs in treating depression?

  They block the reabsorption of serotonin, increasing its level in the synapse
• How does cocaine affect neurotransmitter transmission?

  It blocks the reabsorption of dopamine, increasing its signal
• What is the significance of synapses in relation to consciousness and memory?

  • Synapses are fundamental to brain function
  • They enable communication between neurons
  • Consciousness and memories arise from synaptic interactions
• How many neurons are estimated to be in the human brain?

  About 100 billion neurons
• How many synaptic connections can a single neuron have?

  As many as 15,000 synaptic connections
• How many synapses does an average 20-year-old male have?

  Around 170 trillion synapses
• How does the number of synapses in the brain compare to the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy?

  There are more synapses than stars in the Milky Way galaxy
• How long would it take to count all the synapses in the brain at a rate of 100 synapses per second?

  It would take just under 5,500 years
• What are the key components of synaptic transmission?

  1. Action potential arrival
  2. Vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release
  3. Neurotransmitter diffusion across the synaptic cleft
  4. Receptor binding on the postsynaptic neuron
  5. Summation of excitatory and inhibitory signals
  6. Action potential generation if threshold is reached