🧠 Neuroscience — Intermediate#

Scope — Synaptic transmission, neural circuits, sensory and motor pathways, and basic neurophysiology.

Key concepts#

• Synapse — junction where neurons communicate via chemical or electrical signals.
• Neurotransmitters — chemical messengers (e.g., glutamate, GABA, dopamine).
• Neural circuits — interconnected neurons producing coordinated functions.

Seed Q&A triads#

• Q: How does chemical synaptic transmission occur?
  A: An action potential triggers neurotransmitter release, which binds receptors on the postsynaptic membrane and alters ion flow.

• Q: What distinguishes excitatory from inhibitory neurotransmitters?
  A: Excitatory transmitters increase the likelihood of action potentials; inhibitory transmitters decrease it by hyperpolarizing the membrane.

• Q: How do sensory and motor pathways differ in information flow?
  A: Sensory pathways carry information from receptors to the CNS; motor pathways transmit commands from the CNS to muscles or glands.

Short exercises#

• Compare glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses in terms of ion channels and postsynaptic effects.