neuropsych unit 1

• Neuron is made out of

  all made of the cell membrane
• neurons

  generate electrical impulses and send messages to other cells and muscles and have the ability to chage
• parts of a neuron

  • dendrites
  • cell body
  • axon hillock
  • axon
  • presynaptic membrane
• dendrites

  also called post synaptic membrane

  receive information / input from presynaptic neurons
• cell body function

  protein synthesis

  integration of electrical potentials
• what is in the cell body

  • nucleus: contains genetic info
  • ER: contains ribosomes
  • ribosomes: make proteins
  • mitochondria: powerhouse - generates ATP
• Axon hillock


  where first VGSC is
• axon

  propagates action potential

  conduction
• presynaptic membrane

  output

  synapses with postsynaptic membrane
• examples of proteins

  protein channels (let stuff in and out)

  neurotransmitters
• hierarchical formation of proteins

  primary - secondary - tertiary - quaternary
• why do proteins matter

  if proteins could not change shape then neurons would not work
• types of neurotransmitters

  small molecules

  peptides

  gases
• small molecule transmitter


  -synthesized and stored in presynaptic terminal using enzymes present in terminal / fast release

  • acetylcholine
  • anandamide
  • dopamine
  • serotonin
  • norepinephrine
  • GABA
  • GLY
  • GLU
  • HIS
• Acetylcholine


  NT

  neuromuscular junction

  alertness

  memory

  parasympathetic - rest and digest
• what part of the brain is AcH in

  cholinergic
• anandamide

  bliss

  memory loss - we forget things we may not want to remember
• dopamine

  reward pathway

  coordinating movement

  attention

  learning

  increased = Schiz // decreased = Park

  VTA
• serotonin

  mood

  agression

  arousal
• norepinephrine 


  fight or flight
• GABA

  inhibitory

  loss of consciousness / sedation
• GLY

  inhibitory
• GLU 


  excitatory
• HIS


  when activated in allergic reaction - causes airways to constrict / asthma

  arousal / waking /smooth muscle
• Peptides


  made in cell body and placed in vesicles that are taken by microtubules

  • opioids: pleasure and pain
  • orexin: feeling full
• gases

  neither stored in vesicles or released - made when needed and diffuses away from site where it was made

  NO - increases blood flow - viagra
• four mechanisms NT removed from synapse

  diffusion

  enzymatic degradation

  presynaptic reuptake

  glial uptake
• NT diffusion

  NT diffuses away from synaptic cleft and is no longer available to bind to receptors
• enzymatic degradation 


  enzymes in the synaptic cleft bind to the NT and break down the NT so it can no longer activate the post syn

  • example: acetylcholenesterase: breaks down acetylcholine
• presynaptic reuptake 


  membrane transporter proteins specific to that NT may bring the NT back into the presynaptic axon terminal to reuse *PUT BACK IN VESSICLE

  example of inhibitor: SSRI (reuptake inhibitor)= doesnt allow 5-HT to be reuptaken = 5HT stays in synapse
• glial uptake

  NT taken up by nearby glial cell *astrocytes

  tripartide synapse
• ipsilateral

  same side
• contralateral

  opposite sides

  • important - each hemisphere responds to stimuli and produces movement on the opposite side
• proximal 


  close together
• distal

  far apart
• afferent

  Moving towards CNS / sensory
• efferent

  moving away from CNS / motor
• support and protection of brain- 4 layers 


  skull

  meninges layers

  1. dura
  2. arachnoid
  3. pia

  CSF

  BBB
• meninges layers


  Dura

  arachnoid

  pia
• subdural hematoma 


  after TBI - blood vessel leaks and blood collects under dural layers

  • protypical symtoms: slurred speech, paralyzed on other side, pupils
  • imaging: white spots localized on one side of brain
  • blood pools are constraining brain and adding pressure on parts that control movement and eyes