Posted by SLS on June 3, 2000, at 12:41:59
In reply to Re: Info on Neurotransmitters, posted by boBB on June 2, 2000, at 23:55:55
Hi BoBB.
I won't pick too much, as there isn't a whole lot wrong to pick at. The only question I have is what was your motivation to give such a dissertation? What salient point were you trying to make?
> JB, I checked out the http://www.beatcfsandfms.org/html/BrainChem.html site, but I wouldn't give it two stars on my five star scale.
>
> The problem I had was that it went from introducing the concept of a neurotransmitter right into talking drugs. We would never learn what role a neurotransmitter plays in a healthy brain.I thought it was very good.
> Even if we agree that someone has a neurochemical imbalance and that psychmeds could improve the balance, MOST of your neurochemical balance will continue to function properly.
You should see my P.E.T. scans. If you were to, I doubt you would have made the previous statement. 80% of it is blue. The percentage is higher if you exclude the occipital lobes.
> pre-synaptic means things that happen inside the neuron (brain cell) before (pre) the synapse. All of the blocking and mimicking drugs work at the synapse, but the call them post-synaptic.
No. But that's O.K. For instance, the NE promoting effect of Remeron is produced by its ability to antagonize presynaptic NE alpha-2 receptors. Clonidine, a hypotensive agent, exerts its effect by stimulating presynaptic NE alpha-2 receptors.
> For example, GABA is an inhibiting neurotransmitter.
>
> Serotonin and dopamine are reinforcing neurotransmitters.
>
> Norepenephrine is a stimulating or exciting neurotransmitter.I still think we should also try to think in terms of neural pathways.
> Your neurons might be mobilizing both NorE and GABA and whichever one prevails will determine whether you get a reaction, from the NorE, or, if the GABA "wins" whatever nerve network is getting dosed will freeze, or do nothing.
This is pretty close. It takes pathways into account.
> Dopamine is found exclusively in networks from the frontal area - mostly the frontal lobes, to the amygdala/hypocampus, which is in the limbic system, inside the temporal lobes, (behind your temples).
Ouch. Be careful when using words like "exclusively" when dealing with the brain. (Remember Parkinson's)
> Dopamine networks (dopaminergic) are associated with "pleasure centers." these are areas of the brain associated with pleasure. (DUh!). When they implant mice with probes that let them self stimulate these areas, they will often stimulate rather than eat or sleep, until they starve to death. Evolutionary psychologists suggest we evolved these networks to learn what was good for us in terms of survival.
I believe my dopamine levels are extremely low, yet I self-stimulate all of the time. How do you account for this?
I guess I must be a bit further along the evolutionary scale than the reptile.
> Norepenephrine AKA noradrenaline is what gets things going. When we have some sort of stimulus, NorE is the first chemical that spreads through our networks. If we spread NorE with no stimulus, it feels like anxiety or panic.
This is a very interesting concept. I think I'll look into it. Thanks.
> Serotonin is a reinforcer, like dopamine, but it is found more in the middle and back of the upper brain (cerebral cortex) Serotonin is associated with more mundane tasks, like movements and repetitive tasks. That is why exercise helps boost serotonin levels - repetition produces serotonin and serotonin facilitates repetition. repeatedly.
Serotoninergic neurons are usually inhibitory. This is why SSRIs very often produce apathy.
> I could prattle and babble on and on,
No way! :-)
> but lets see who picks at this.
:-)
> There are probably some small flaws in my explanations, but I think this is a handy sketch of basic functions. If it is flawed, it is because it is oversimplified.
BoBB.
> But I also find people who can talk all kinds of advanced microbiology, but are not familiar with the basic function of the brain machine. I think we should be learning this much about the time we get into junior high school.
Why?
> I think we should be learning this much about the time we get into junior high school. IF we can learn the capitals of all 50 states, why not learn the basics of how our brain works at about the same time we are going to start to be exposed to choices about using tobacco, coffee, pot or cocaine?
I don't think these two equate well. Which would have been easier for you to learn at age 13? Also, I'm not sure that under this sort of program, it would be wise to leave out understanding the structure and function of the heart, autonomic nervous system, lungs and trachea, liver, oncogenes, the vascular system, and the process that produces arterial plaques, just to demonstrate why they should not snort, smoke, drink alcohol, or eat fatty foods. When you were 13, how well did you learn the processes responsible for the evolution of a class O star from gas cloud to the initiation of fusion reactions to the expulsion of iron from its core when it supernovas, and why we are all here because of it? Pedantic, I know, but I lectured about this stuff to a group of boy scouts when I was 13. Maybe it is a good idea. It's something to think about, anyway.
You need to leave these kids some room for them to learn about journalism, anyway.
> boBB
> graduate, Magna Cume Loudmouth
> University of Hard Knocks
> High School Drop Out
> copyright released
> flunked spelling
> public domain
> autodidact
> birds
> bees
> DAC
- Scott, N.D. (Doctor of Nothing)
poster:SLS
thread:35005
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/35855.html