Neurotransmitters AP Psychology
Master the Exam – Comprehensive
Study Guide with Practice Questions
and Verified Answers
acetylcholine (ACh) -answer Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. It
Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some of its receptors
are stimulated by nicotine (associated with Alzheimer's Disease)
Deficiency - Alzheimer's
Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle
movement
dopamine (DA) -answer Voluntary movement
-Alertness - Attention
-Rewards
-Emotion
Excess - Schizophrenia
Deficiency - Parkinson's Disease
norepinephrine (NE) -answer -"Fight or flight" response: elevates heart rate, circulation,
respiration; slows digestion
-Controls alertness, arousal
-Mood elevation
Deficiency - Depression, ADHD
Excess - Anxiety, High blood pressure
serotonin -answer -Mood regulation
-Hunger/Appetite
--Arousal
Deficiency - Depression (Treated with SSRI's - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed in uptake, leaving more in synapses)
Excess - Anxiety, OCD, Insomnia, Hypermania
(associated with Depressive disorders, Obsessive-compulsive disorders, Eating
disorders)
GABA -answer Brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter
Deficiency - Seizures, Insomnia
, glutamate -answer Brain's main (agonist) excitatory neurotransmitter
-Creates links between neurons that form basis of learning, long-term memory.
Excess - Multiple sclerosis
Excess - Seizures & Migraines(Avoid foods with MSG - monosodium glutamate;
overstimulate brain)
Acetylcholine -answer Alzheimers
Dopamine -answer oversupply = Schizophrenia, termors, Parkinson's
Serotonin -answer Undersupply = Depression
Norepinephrine -answer oversupply can depress mood
GABA -answer undersupply = Seizures, tremors, insomnia
Glutamate -answer Oversupply can overstimulate brain, migranes or seizures
Endorphins -answer -Pain control & relief - Stress reduction
-Feelings of pleasure
-Natural opiates
Deficiency - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction
Morphine is an agonist for endorphins
Endorphins -answer undersupply - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction
Endorphins -answer oversupply can lead to insensitivity to pain/little pain
acetylcholine (ACh) -answer Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. It
Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some of its receptors
are stimulated by nicotine (associated with Alzheimer's Disease)
Deficiency - Alzheimer's
Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle
movement
dopamine (DA) -answer Voluntary movement
-Alertness - Attention
-Rewards
-Emotion
Excess - Schizophrenia
Deficiency - Parkinson's Disease
Master the Exam – Comprehensive
Study Guide with Practice Questions
and Verified Answers
acetylcholine (ACh) -answer Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. It
Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some of its receptors
are stimulated by nicotine (associated with Alzheimer's Disease)
Deficiency - Alzheimer's
Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle
movement
dopamine (DA) -answer Voluntary movement
-Alertness - Attention
-Rewards
-Emotion
Excess - Schizophrenia
Deficiency - Parkinson's Disease
norepinephrine (NE) -answer -"Fight or flight" response: elevates heart rate, circulation,
respiration; slows digestion
-Controls alertness, arousal
-Mood elevation
Deficiency - Depression, ADHD
Excess - Anxiety, High blood pressure
serotonin -answer -Mood regulation
-Hunger/Appetite
--Arousal
Deficiency - Depression (Treated with SSRI's - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed in uptake, leaving more in synapses)
Excess - Anxiety, OCD, Insomnia, Hypermania
(associated with Depressive disorders, Obsessive-compulsive disorders, Eating
disorders)
GABA -answer Brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter
Deficiency - Seizures, Insomnia
, glutamate -answer Brain's main (agonist) excitatory neurotransmitter
-Creates links between neurons that form basis of learning, long-term memory.
Excess - Multiple sclerosis
Excess - Seizures & Migraines(Avoid foods with MSG - monosodium glutamate;
overstimulate brain)
Acetylcholine -answer Alzheimers
Dopamine -answer oversupply = Schizophrenia, termors, Parkinson's
Serotonin -answer Undersupply = Depression
Norepinephrine -answer oversupply can depress mood
GABA -answer undersupply = Seizures, tremors, insomnia
Glutamate -answer Oversupply can overstimulate brain, migranes or seizures
Endorphins -answer -Pain control & relief - Stress reduction
-Feelings of pleasure
-Natural opiates
Deficiency - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction
Morphine is an agonist for endorphins
Endorphins -answer undersupply - Addiction Potentially involved in addiction
Endorphins -answer oversupply can lead to insensitivity to pain/little pain
acetylcholine (ACh) -answer Released by motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. It
Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some of its receptors
are stimulated by nicotine (associated with Alzheimer's Disease)
Deficiency - Alzheimer's
Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle
movement
dopamine (DA) -answer Voluntary movement
-Alertness - Attention
-Rewards
-Emotion
Excess - Schizophrenia
Deficiency - Parkinson's Disease
