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    Neurotransmitter Cheat Sheet AP Review

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    Nathania Dawit

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    Neurotransmitter Cheat Sheet AP Review

    Uploaded by

    Nathania Dawit
    414 views2 pages

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    414 views2 pages

    Neurotransmitter Cheat Sheet AP Review

    Uploaded by

    Nathania Dawit

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Important Neurotransmitters to Know for the AP® Psych Exam

    Problems with Problems


    Neurotransmitter Type Function
    Surplus with Deficit

    – muscle
    function
    Acetylcholine Alzheimer’s
    Excitatory – learning and Muscle spasms
    (ACH) disease
    memory
    – attention

    – mood and
    Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s
    Dopamine Inhibitory emotion
    drug addiction disease
    – arousal

    – mood
    Depression
    regulation
    Serotonin Inhibitory Hallucinations and mood
    – hunger and
    disorders
    sleep

    – arousal and
    alertness,
    Mental
    especially in
    disorders,
    Norepinephrine Excitatory fight-or-flight Anxiety
    specifically
    response
    depression
    – mood
    elevation

    – brain’s main
    Anxiety,
    Inhibitory: inhibitory
    epilepsy,
    prevent neurotransmitter Sleep and
    GABA insomnia,
    acction – regulates eating disorders
    Huntington’s
    potatinal sleep-wake
    disease
    cycles

    – brain’s main
    excitatory Overstimulation
    neurotransmitter of brain, which
    Glutamate Excitatory – basis of can cause N/A
    learning and migraines and
    long-term seizures
    memory

    Endorphins Inhibitory – pain control Artificial highs, Potential


    – stress inadequate involvement
    reduction in addiction,
    response to
    – positive especially
    pain
    emotions opiates

    Agonists and Antagonists


    Neurotransmitters don’t always act on their own. Drugs can affect the degree of a
    neurotransmitter’s impact. This effect on the neurotransmitter occurs at the synapse.

    If a drug increases the effect of a neurotransmitter, it is called an agonist. So if an agonist


    acts on an excitatory neurotransmitter, the excitatory effect will increase. Here are some
    examples of common agonists:
     Caffeine: agonist for ACH.
     Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): agonists for serotonin.
    SSRIs increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain, and are
    commonly prescribed for depression.
     Adderall, methamphetamine, cocaine, and speed: agonists of
    norepinephrine. When these drugs increase the excitatory effects of
    norepinephrine, they create feelings of euphoria and extreme alertness.
     Benzodiazepines and alcohol: agonists of GABA.
     Opiates (morphine, oxycodone, heroin, etc.): agonists of endorphins.
    If a drug decreases the effect of a neurotransmitter, it is called an antagonist. So if an
    antagonist acts on an excitatory neurotransmitter, the excitatory effect will decrease.
    Here are some examples of common antagonists:
     LSD: antagonist for serotonin.
     PCP: antagonist of glutamate. PCP causes a dissociative state that inhibits
    memory and learning.
     Some drugs that are dopamine antagonists are used to treat psychosis,
    schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
    Be careful: agonists and antagonists do not change the type of change a
    neurotransmitter causes. An antagonist will not change an excitatory neurotransmitter
    into an inhibitory one; it will just lower the degree of the excitatory response.

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