NEURO

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• NEURO-
• TRANSMITTERS
• AND
• BEHAVIOR

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If you can identify an inde-pendent variable in a
research description, the research is best
described as __ research.

• A. naturalistic observation
• B. survey
• C. correlational
• D. experimental
• E. case study

3
Freud and contemporary neuropsychology have in
common an emphasis on ___ research methods.

• A. naturalistic observation
• B. survey
• C. correlational
• D. experimental
• E. case study

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NEURON STRUCTURE

• Cell body (soma) and dendrites
• receiving portion
• nonmyelinated
• gray matter

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• Axon
• conducting portion
• myelinated
• white matter
• myelin increases conduction velocity

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• Axon terminal
• transmitting portion

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BASIC CONCEPTS INNEUROTRANSMISSION

• Synaptic vesicles in presynaptic terminals
  contain neurotransmitter (NT) substances

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• Action potentials (exchange of Na and K ions
  across the membrane) cause release of NT

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NT occupies postsynaptic receptors and either
excites or inhibits
the next neuron -
lock and
key analogy
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• NT Agonists - drugs that increase NT effects
• NT Antagonists - drugs that decrease NT effects

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SELECTEDNEUROTRANSMITTERS
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ACETYLCHOLINE-ACh

• NT at all neuromuscular junctions
• Curare - ACh antagonist induces
• paralysis

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• Alzheimers disease - senile dementia - not
  enough ACh activity in the brain

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• Important role in learning and memory processes
• No simple way to increase ACh activity in the
  brain

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SEROTONIN - 5-HT NOREPINEPHRINE - NE

• Involved in the control of sleep and arousal

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• Depression often associated with decreased
  activity in 5-HT and NE systems in the brain

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Prozac increases 5-HT activity
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GABA

• Major inhibitory NT
• Benzodiazepines (antianxiety compounds) interact
  with GABA receptor , increase GABA activity

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• Alcohol is a GABA
• agonist
• GABA antagonists block some effects of alcohol

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NITRIC OXIDE - NO

• Toxic gas in the atmosphere
• NT in brain - important in learning and memory

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DOPAMINE - DA

• Parkinsons disease
• movement disorder
• not enough DA activity

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• Neurons that form the Substantia Nigra are
  destroyed
• L-dopa provides therapy, not a cure

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• Schizophrenia - too much DA activity
• Therapy provided by DA
• antagonists

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• Mesotelencephalic dopamine reward system
• Olds and Milner - Rewarding electrical
  stimulation of the brain
• Drug self-administration - addictions mediated by
  DA reward system

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• Conventional rewards (food, water, sex, a pat on
  the back, a smile) are thought to reflect
  increased DA activity in the brain
• Do you feel good? Why? Increased DA activity in
  the brain

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• IF YOU DAMAGE
• YOUR BRAIN, HOW
• DO YOU REPAIR IT?

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• Neurons that are destroyed are not replaced by
  new neurons
• Replace damaged neurons with grafts of brain
  tissue
• Brain grafts for Parkinsons disease may provide
  a cure

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• BUT ---- WHAT IS
• THE SOURCE OF
• THE GRAFTED
• MATERIAL?????

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• Human fetal substantia nigra

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• Fetus farms

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• Immortal human embryonic stem cells

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• Your clone in a cows egg

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SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION
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• Chromosomes XX XY
• Primordial Ovaries Testes
• Gonads
• 
  Androgens
• Hormones Estrogens Testosterone
• (puberty) (fetal life
  
• 
  puberty)
• Primordial Vagina Penis
• Genitalia

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• Natures impulse is to make a female - You have
  to add something,
• Testosterone, to make a male

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• Adrenogenital syndrome - genetic females
  partially masculinized by adrenal androgens

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• Androgen-insensitivity syndrome - genetic males
  who lack androgen receptors

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• 5-alpha reductase syndrome - genetic males who
  appear female at birth are masculinized at puberty