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Function of Glutamate
- In the hippocampus - glutamate activity is critical in the formation of memory
- Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter
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Function of GABA
- the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS
- Role - inhibition of excitatory neurons in the cortex and thalamus
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Function of Dopamine
plays a role in mood disorders, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, fear response, and drug addiction
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Function of Dopamine in the Nigrostriatal Tract
Involved in regulation of muscle tone
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Function of Dopamine in the Tuberoinfundibular tract
Normally, dopamine inhibits secretion of prolactin from the anterior pituitary
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Function of Dopamine in the Mesolimbic / mesocortical tract
plays a role in psychosis and mood disorders due to extensive projections into limbic system and prefrontal cortex
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Function of Norepinephrine
- Plays a role in mood, anxiety, arousal, learning, and memory formation
- Norepinephrine levels are low in depression and high in anxiety disorders
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Function of Serotonin
- Serotonin in proper amounts = feelin' good
- Low Serotonin = depression and anxiety
- Too high Serotonin = psychosis and/or euphoria
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Function of Acetylcholine
- Modulates attention, novelty seeking, and memory via forebrain projections to cortex and limbic system
- Regulation of sleep-wake cycle via brainstem projections to the thalamus
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What causes Depression?
- low serotonin
- low dopamine
- low norepinephrine
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What causes Mania?
Too much dopamine!!!!
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What causes Psychosis
- Too much dopamine
- too much serotonin
- too much glutamate
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What causes anxiety?
- low serotonin
- low GABA
- too much norepinephrine
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What causes dementia?
- low acetylcholine
- too much glutamate
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