Question

1. chart of neurotransmitters

neurotransmitter function(s) malfunction(s)
acetylcholine (ach)

dopamine

serotonin

norepinephrine

gaba

glutamate

endorphins

substance p

module 1.3b the neuron & neural firing: substance use disorders & psychoactive drugs

1. how do drugs and other chemicals alter neurotransmitters?
2. what is the difference between agonists and antagonists? provide examples of each.

Explanation:

1. Acetylcholine (ACh):

• Function: Involved in muscle - contraction, memory, and learning.
• Malfunction: Associated with Alzheimer's disease (memory loss) when levels are low.

1. Dopamine:

• Function: Regulates movement, motivation, and reward - seeking behavior.
• Malfunction: Low levels linked to Parkinson's disease (motor symptoms), high levels may be related to schizophrenia.

1. Serotonin:

• Function: Affects mood, sleep, and appetite.
• Malfunction: Low levels associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

1. Norepinephrine:

• Function: Involved in the body's stress response, attention, and arousal.
• Malfunction: Imbalances can lead to mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

1. GABA (Gamma - aminobutyric acid):

• Function: The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, reducing neural excitability.
• Malfunction: Low levels associated with anxiety disorders, epilepsy.

1. Glutamate:

• Function: The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in learning and memory.
• Malfunction: Excessive release can be neurotoxic and is associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

1. Endorphins:

• Function: Act as natural painkillers and produce feelings of pleasure and well - being.
• Malfunction: Imbalances may contribute to chronic pain perception.

1. Substance P:

• Function: Involved in pain signaling.
• Malfunction: Overactive signaling can lead to heightened pain sensitivity.

For question 16: Drugs and other chemicals can alter neurotransmitters in several ways. They can increase or decrease the release of neurotransmitters, block their reuptake (e.g., antidepressants block the reuptake of serotonin), or mimic the action of neurotransmitters (agonists).
For question 17: Agonists are substances that bind to a receptor and activate it, mimicking the action of the natural neurotransmitter (e.g., morphine is an agonist for endorphin receptors). Antagonists bind to a receptor but do not activate it, instead blocking the action of the natural neurotransmitter or other agonists (e.g., naloxone is an antagonist for opioid receptors and can reverse the effects of opioids like morphine).

Answer:

Neurotransmitter	Function(s)	Malfunction(s)
Dopamine	Movement, motivation, reward - seeking	Parkinson's disease (low levels), schizophrenia (high levels)
Serotonin	Mood, sleep, appetite	Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders (low levels)
Norepinephrine	Stress response, attention, arousal	Mood disorders (imbalances)
GABA	Reduces neural excitability	Anxiety disorders, epilepsy (low levels)
Glutamate	Learning, memory	Neurodegenerative diseases (excessive release)
Endorphins	Natural painkillers, pleasure	Chronic pain perception (imbalances)
Substance P	Pain signaling	Heightened pain sensitivity (overactive signaling)

1. Drugs can increase or decrease neurotransmitter release, block reuptake, or mimic neurotransmitter action.
2. Agonists activate receptors (e.g., morphine), antagonists block receptor activation (e.g., naloxone).