Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior
Book Page   Topic                                        
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-13 Neurotransmitters    are constructed from cheap and plentiful precursors --    simple amino acids that you get in huge amounts in your diet.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-14 A small number of biosynthetic steps    are required to construct neurotransmitters;    they are produced quickly.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-14 Neurotransmitters are easily recycled.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-14 Changes in the amount of neurotransmitter release    can change the strength of signaling    across the synapse.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-14 Changes in the number and sensitivity of receptors    can change the strength of signaling    across the synapse.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-14 Hallucinogens such as LSD are able to artificially stimulate the serotonin receptor.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-14 Antipsychotic drugs can block the dopamine receptor,    lessening symptoms of schizophrenia.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 Amphetamines and cocaine    trigger the premature release    of dopamine transmitters.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 Because the release of dopamine    makes a person feel pleasure    in at least one part of the brain,    artificially releasing more of it    makes such drugs as cocaine highly addictive.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 Drugs that release dopamine    can trigger schizophrenic behavior,    while drugs that block dopamine    are used to halt schizophrenic behavior.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 Antidepressants, including Prozac,    cause amplification in the neurotransmitter's signal    by blocking its degradation.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 increase the amount of precursors for certain neurotransmitters,    increasing the L-DOPA level for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 Neurotransmitter endogenous benzodiazepine,    a compound similar to the drugs Valium and Librium.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-15 Tranquilizers such as Valium and Librium are used to decrease a persons anxiety level.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-19 Long-term potentiation (LTP)
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-19 Changing the strength    of synaptic communication    is the basis for learning.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-19 Cortex and hippocampus are the main regions of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-19 Long-term potentiation (LTP),    a synaptic model for learning,    stimulating a dendritic spine in a dense cluster of rapid action potentials,    resulting in that synapse becoming hyperresponsive or potentiated.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-19 After potentiation,    the pathway is stronger.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-19 Glutamate is a simple neurotransmitter    made from an amino acid.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-20 If glutamate levels get too high,    the postsynaptic neuron can be excited to death. This condition can occur in stroke,    seizure,    and cardiac arrest.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-25 Neurons    sharpen signal detection    through inhibition.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-25 Neurons    sharpen the detection of signals    by inhibiting themselves and other neurons.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-25 The ability of neurons    to have projections coming off the axon    and sending projections back onto themselves (called recurrent collateral projections)    allows them to inhibit themselves    and sharpen their signals over time.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-25 Recurrent collateral projections    are seen in many neurons.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-25 Through lateral inhibition,    neurons sharpen their signals    over space.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-25 Lateral inhibition    helps to enhance the precise location of information.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-26 Information is contained in the patterns of neuronal excitation.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-26 Neurons from different networks can overlap and be used in different settings.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-26 Memory retrieval    is a result of tapping into many networks    and integrating all of those inputs.
Sapolsky; Biology and Human Behavior 1-26 Mild neuron loss,    including that associated with early stage dementia and Alzheimer's disease,    does not destroy memories as much as it makes it harder to retrieve memory.