Neurotransmitters recap

• Excitatory

  • stimulates or activates post-synaptic neuron, increasing likelihood of firing
• Inhibitory

  • suppresses or slowdowns post-synaptic neuron from firing, decreases firing likelihood
• LTP - relatively permanent strengthening of synaptic connections; due to repeated activation of neural pathways, increasing glutamate and dendrites
• LTD - weakening of neural synapse, infrequent release of neurotransmitters, decrease in receptors, dendrites and synaptic connections
• Glutamate - a primary excitatory neurotransmitter, stimulates neural activity, involved in neural plasticity, learning and storing memory
• GABA - a primary inhibitor neurotransmitter, slows neural activity and associated with anxiety and phobias/disorders