The Synapse and Neurotransmission

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The synapse is the key to life and individuality. Without these gaps between neurones, our
activities, thoughts and functions would be controlled as if by wiring and we would be as machines
or automata. The existence of these gaps allows an opportunity fo r interference in transmission of
nervous impulses by chemicals or other impulses and so permits variations in response. These
modulating chemicals may be derived from medication or internal metabolic processes.
Alternatively they may be the consequence o f a reaction to some extrinsic or intrinsic factor such
as lack of food, stress, fear, anxiety or temperament. There is, therefore, a complex interplay
between chemicals and psychological and behavioural characteristics with each being able to
cause varia tions in the others.
There are a number of chemicals which can act as synaptic transmitters in the brain. For example,
dopamine, acetyl choline, serotonin !"#T$, noradrenalin, %A&A and various amino acids have
been shown to perform this function within specific systems. 'ne of the features of these systems
is the way in which they interconnect and interact with each other. For example, in (arkinson)s
disease the symptoms are usually the result of insufficiency in transmission within the
dopaminergic nigro"striatal *+$ syste m. The abnormal movements which characterise the
condition are the result of cholinergic stimulation which is normally inhibited by activation of the
dopamine *+ system. At the same time the dopaminergic system is influenced by %A&A systems
in that stimul ation of certain %A&A pathways will inhibit *+ dopaminergic systems. The
consequence of this would be a removal of the inhibiting influence of the dopaminergic system and
a causation of abnormal movements influenced by the cholinergic system.
At the same time the peptides present in the ,*+ will be modulating transmission at each synapse
in all of these systems see +hattock -../$.