Chapter 1 Notes:
Neurons
All neurons have a cell body also known as the Soma
o This is the command center of the nerve and contains the nucleus
Neurons send and receive information
o Neurons sent information via an axon that forms presynaptic terminals as the axon passes
by or as the axon ends
After neurons migrate, they formed synapsis
o Synaptic connections form not just between the axon and dendrites of two neurons
(axodendritic) but also between the axon and the Soma (axosomatic) or the axons of the
two neurons (axoaxonic)
Process of classic synaptic neurotransmission
In classic synaptic neurotransmission, you have stimulation of a presynaptic neuron
o Either by neurotransmitters, light, drugs, hormones or nerve impulses
They cause electrical impulses to be sent to its axon terminal
These electrical impulses are then converted into chemical messengers
They are then released to stimulate the receptors of a postsynaptic neuron
Although communication within a neuron can be electrical communication between neurons is
chemical
Begins with an electrical process by which neuron and electrical impulses from one part of the
cell to another part of the same cell via their axons
These electrical impulses do not jump directly to other neurons
Classic neurotransmission between neurons involves one neuron, hurling a chemical messenger
or neurotransmitter at the receptors of a second neuron
This happens frequently, but not exclusively at the sites of synaptic connections
In the brain, there are billions of neurons, each make thousands of synapsis with other neurons
Communication between all these neurons at synapsis is chemical not electrical
o The electrical impulse in the first neuron is converted to a chemical signal at the synapse
between it and a second neuron in a process known as excitation secretion coupling
This is the first stage of chemical neurotransmission
This happens predominantly, but not exclusively in one direction from the
presynaptic axon terminal to a second postsynaptic neuron
Finally, neurotransmission continues in the second neuron either by converting
the chemical information from the first neuron back into a electrical impulse in
the second neuron
The information from the first neuron triggers, a cascade of further chemical
messages within the second neuron to change the neuron molecular and genetic
functioning
An interesting twist to chemical neurotransmission is a discovery that postsynaptic neurons can
also “talk back” to the presynaptic neuron
o They can do this via retrograde neurotransmission from the second neuron to the first at
the synapse between them
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, Inside a neuron = electrical (action potentials)
Between neurons = chemical (neurotransmitters)
Synapse
A presynaptic neuron sends its axon terminal to form a synapse with a postsynaptic neuron
Energy for neurotransmission from the presynaptic neuron is provided by the mitochondria
Chemical neurotransmitters are started small vesicles ready to release upon firing of the
presynaptic neuron
The synaptic cleft is the gap between the synaptic neuron and the postsynaptic neuron. It
contains proteins and scaffolding and molecular forms of synaptic glue to reinforce the
connection between the neurons.
Receptors are present on both sides of the cleft in our key elements of chemical
neurotransmission
Neurons are the cells of chemical communication in the brain
The brain is comprised of tens of billions of neurons which are linked to thousands of other
neurons
The brain has trillions of specialized connections, known as synopsis
Neurons have many sizes lengths and shapes that determine their function
Location within the brain also function
When neurons malfunction behavioral symptoms make her
When drugs, alter neuron function, behavioral symptoms may be relieved, worsened, or
produced
Neurotransmitters
There are particularly six key neurotransmitter systems, targeted by psychotropic drugs
o Serotonin
o Norepinephrine
o Dopamine
o Acetylcholine
o Glutamate
Process of Signal transduction cascade
Communication from the genome of the presynaptic neuron to the genome of the postsynaptic
neuron, and then back from the genome of the postsynaptic neuron to the genome of the
presynaptic neuron via the retrograde neurotransmission
This process involves long strings of chemical messages within both presynaptic and postsynaptic
neurons called signal transduction cascade
Signal transduction cascades triggered by chemical neurotransmission involves numerous
molecules starting with neurotransmitter first messenger proceeded to second, third, fourth and
more messengers
This study source was downloaded by 100000898062787 from CourseHero.com on 09-30-2025 04:13:14 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251574272/Psychopharmacology-Chapter-1-notesdocx/
Neurons
All neurons have a cell body also known as the Soma
o This is the command center of the nerve and contains the nucleus
Neurons send and receive information
o Neurons sent information via an axon that forms presynaptic terminals as the axon passes
by or as the axon ends
After neurons migrate, they formed synapsis
o Synaptic connections form not just between the axon and dendrites of two neurons
(axodendritic) but also between the axon and the Soma (axosomatic) or the axons of the
two neurons (axoaxonic)
Process of classic synaptic neurotransmission
In classic synaptic neurotransmission, you have stimulation of a presynaptic neuron
o Either by neurotransmitters, light, drugs, hormones or nerve impulses
They cause electrical impulses to be sent to its axon terminal
These electrical impulses are then converted into chemical messengers
They are then released to stimulate the receptors of a postsynaptic neuron
Although communication within a neuron can be electrical communication between neurons is
chemical
Begins with an electrical process by which neuron and electrical impulses from one part of the
cell to another part of the same cell via their axons
These electrical impulses do not jump directly to other neurons
Classic neurotransmission between neurons involves one neuron, hurling a chemical messenger
or neurotransmitter at the receptors of a second neuron
This happens frequently, but not exclusively at the sites of synaptic connections
In the brain, there are billions of neurons, each make thousands of synapsis with other neurons
Communication between all these neurons at synapsis is chemical not electrical
o The electrical impulse in the first neuron is converted to a chemical signal at the synapse
between it and a second neuron in a process known as excitation secretion coupling
This is the first stage of chemical neurotransmission
This happens predominantly, but not exclusively in one direction from the
presynaptic axon terminal to a second postsynaptic neuron
Finally, neurotransmission continues in the second neuron either by converting
the chemical information from the first neuron back into a electrical impulse in
the second neuron
The information from the first neuron triggers, a cascade of further chemical
messages within the second neuron to change the neuron molecular and genetic
functioning
An interesting twist to chemical neurotransmission is a discovery that postsynaptic neurons can
also “talk back” to the presynaptic neuron
o They can do this via retrograde neurotransmission from the second neuron to the first at
the synapse between them
This study source was downloaded by 100000898062787 from CourseHero.com on 09-30-2025 04:13:14 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251574272/Psychopharmacology-Chapter-1-notesdocx/
, Inside a neuron = electrical (action potentials)
Between neurons = chemical (neurotransmitters)
Synapse
A presynaptic neuron sends its axon terminal to form a synapse with a postsynaptic neuron
Energy for neurotransmission from the presynaptic neuron is provided by the mitochondria
Chemical neurotransmitters are started small vesicles ready to release upon firing of the
presynaptic neuron
The synaptic cleft is the gap between the synaptic neuron and the postsynaptic neuron. It
contains proteins and scaffolding and molecular forms of synaptic glue to reinforce the
connection between the neurons.
Receptors are present on both sides of the cleft in our key elements of chemical
neurotransmission
Neurons are the cells of chemical communication in the brain
The brain is comprised of tens of billions of neurons which are linked to thousands of other
neurons
The brain has trillions of specialized connections, known as synopsis
Neurons have many sizes lengths and shapes that determine their function
Location within the brain also function
When neurons malfunction behavioral symptoms make her
When drugs, alter neuron function, behavioral symptoms may be relieved, worsened, or
produced
Neurotransmitters
There are particularly six key neurotransmitter systems, targeted by psychotropic drugs
o Serotonin
o Norepinephrine
o Dopamine
o Acetylcholine
o Glutamate
Process of Signal transduction cascade
Communication from the genome of the presynaptic neuron to the genome of the postsynaptic
neuron, and then back from the genome of the postsynaptic neuron to the genome of the
presynaptic neuron via the retrograde neurotransmission
This process involves long strings of chemical messages within both presynaptic and postsynaptic
neurons called signal transduction cascade
Signal transduction cascades triggered by chemical neurotransmission involves numerous
molecules starting with neurotransmitter first messenger proceeded to second, third, fourth and
more messengers
This study source was downloaded by 100000898062787 from CourseHero.com on 09-30-2025 04:13:14 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251574272/Psychopharmacology-Chapter-1-notesdocx/
