Limbic system and development - Modulatory systems

19 important questions on Limbic system and development - Modulatory systems

This is the brainstem, what is indicated with the colors?

Blue = sensory
Yellow/red = motor
Green = intermediate grey (reticular formation)

There is a difference in function of the reticular formation (RF) in the brainstem, the rostral and caudal RF, what is their function

Rostral = arousal and attention (consciousness)
Caudal = autonomic and motor function
- autonomic = blood pressure, heart reate etc.
- motor functions = control muscle tone and gaze control

Where is the rostral RF located?

Mesencephalon and upper pons
--> filters out 99% of the stimuli
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Consciousness is very vague, therefore it is subdivided into 3 parts, which three?

Alertness, attention and awareness

Rostral = major role in alerness, minor for attention (ARAS)

Where is the caudal RF located?

Lower pons and medulla oblongata

Which neurotransmitters are used in the large systems of the CNS?

GABA (-), glutamate (+) and acetylcholine (+)

Which neurotransmitters are used in the small systems of the CNS?

Serotonin
Norepinephrine / noradrenalin 
Dopamine
Histamine
Choline/acetylcholine

What is the main function of serotonin and where is it produced?

Mood and emotion
Produced in Raphe nuclei

What is the main function of norepinephrine and where is it produced?

Arousal and directs attention
Produced in locus coeruleus

What is the main function of dopamine and where is it produced?

Reward-based reinforcement (addiction)
Produced in substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area

What is the main function of choline/acetylcholine and where is it produced?

General brain excitability and used in muscles
Produced in pontomesencephalotegmental complex and basal forebrain complex (septal nuclei and nucleus of Meynert)

What is the main function of histamine?

Arousal, diurnal regulation and food intake

What is the function of the large systems in the CNS? And which synapses and receptors do they use?

Control systems
Somatomotor, sensory, memory and learning, emotional etc.

Synapse = chemical
Receptor = ionotropic
--> fast, short-lived and simple effect

What is the function of the small systems inside the CNS? And which synapses and receptors do they use?

Modulatory systems --> regulates excitability of control systems

Synapse = chemical
Receptor = metabotropic
--> slower, long-lived and variable effect (2nd messenger)

What regulates the modulatory systems (small systems) in the CNS?

VLPO (ventrolateral preoptic nucleus) of the hypothalamus through an inhibitory GABA projection.

VLPO in turn is controlled by suprachiasmatic nucleus (sleep-wake rhythm)

What are circadian rhythms?

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle

Which enzyme is important for the production of serotonin?

Tryptophan hydroxylase 2  (rate limiting enzyme)

Which enzyme is important for the produciton of norepinephrine?

dopamine β-hydroxylase
converts dopamine to norepinephrine (noradrenalin).

Which enzyme is important for glutamate?

glutamate synthetase, glutamate dehydrogenase 1 and glutamate dehydrogenase 3

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