Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology
1. largely the story of chemical neurotransmission: Modern psychopharmacology is
2. Anatomically, chemically, and electrically: neurotransmission can be described as
3. Neurons (nerve cells): Anatomical neurotransmission occurs through
4. axoaxonic synapse: synapse between axon of one neuron and axon of another neuron
5. axodendritic synapse: between axon terminals of one neuron and dendrites of others
6. axosomatic synapse: axon terminal ends on cell body (soma)
7. axoaxonic, axodendritic, axosomatic synapses: Axoaxonic- The strongest signal. "The brakes" axon connecting to
another axon. They can increase or decrease the effect of axodendritic signals by opening and closing Ca2+ channels.
Axodendritic- Most common but also the weakest. Axon connecting to the dendrite of another cell.
Axosomatic- axon of one cell connecting to the soma of another. Axosomatic is not selective in inhibition, it will block a signal
from all dendrites on the cell where as axodendritic will only block the effects from one synapse. 8. neuron malfunction:
behavioral symptoms may occur
9. when drugs alter the neuronal function: behavioral symptoms may be relieved, worsen, or be produced
10. en passant synapse: axon stimulates a synapse secondarily on its way to another neuron
11. Serotonin (5HT), Norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate,
GABA (y-aminobutyric acid): Six key neurotransmitter systems
12. B-endorphin: a neurotransmitter that serves as a natural painkiller
13. Anandamide: endogenous cannabinoid
14. The striatum (basal ganglia): has dopamine reuptake pumps in abundance 15. basal ganglia function: Direct input
from frontal lobe, facilitates motor movements, inhibits unneeded movements
Spatial-temporal aspects of speech
Damage: unusual body postures, dysarthria, change in body tone, involuntary uncontrolled movments interfere with voluntary
speech, walk or other movements (dyskinesias)
16. the prefrontal cortex: has few dopamine reuptake transporters (DAT)
17. Communication between neurons is via: chemical neurotransmitters
18 Excitation-secretion coupling: process by which electrical impulse is converted to chemical signal at the synapse. this is how
the neuron transduces an electrical stimulus into a chemical message. Na and Ca voltage sensitive gated channels.
19. voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSCs) and voltage-sensitive calcium channgels (VSCCs): electrica
impulses open ion channels
20. ion channels: A transmembrane protein channel that allows a specific ion (na+, ca+) to diffuse across the membrane
down its concentration or electrochemical gradient.
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1. largely the story of chemical neurotransmission: Modern psychopharmacology is
2. Anatomically, chemically, and electrically: neurotransmission can be described as
3. Neurons (nerve cells): Anatomical neurotransmission occurs through
4. axoaxonic synapse: synapse between axon of one neuron and axon of another neuron
5. axodendritic synapse: between axon terminals of one neuron and dendrites of others
6. axosomatic synapse: axon terminal ends on cell body (soma)
7. axoaxonic, axodendritic, axosomatic synapses: Axoaxonic- The strongest signal. "The brakes" axon connecting to
another axon. They can increase or decrease the effect of axodendritic signals by opening and closing Ca2+ channels.
Axodendritic- Most common but also the weakest. Axon connecting to the dendrite of another cell.
Axosomatic- axon of one cell connecting to the soma of another. Axosomatic is not selective in inhibition, it will block a signal
from all dendrites on the cell where as axodendritic will only block the effects from one synapse. 8. neuron malfunction:
behavioral symptoms may occur
9. when drugs alter the neuronal function: behavioral symptoms may be relieved, worsen, or be produced
10. en passant synapse: axon stimulates a synapse secondarily on its way to another neuron
11. Serotonin (5HT), Norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate,
GABA (y-aminobutyric acid): Six key neurotransmitter systems
12. B-endorphin: a neurotransmitter that serves as a natural painkiller
13. Anandamide: endogenous cannabinoid
14. The striatum (basal ganglia): has dopamine reuptake pumps in abundance 15. basal ganglia function: Direct input
from frontal lobe, facilitates motor movements, inhibits unneeded movements
Spatial-temporal aspects of speech
Damage: unusual body postures, dysarthria, change in body tone, involuntary uncontrolled movments interfere with voluntary
speech, walk or other movements (dyskinesias)
16. the prefrontal cortex: has few dopamine reuptake transporters (DAT)
17. Communication between neurons is via: chemical neurotransmitters
18 Excitation-secretion coupling: process by which electrical impulse is converted to chemical signal at the synapse. this is how
the neuron transduces an electrical stimulus into a chemical message. Na and Ca voltage sensitive gated channels.
19. voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSCs) and voltage-sensitive calcium channgels (VSCCs): electrica
impulses open ion channels
20. ion channels: A transmembrane protein channel that allows a specific ion (na+, ca+) to diffuse across the membrane
down its concentration or electrochemical gradient.
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