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Agonists and antagonists

tyson4920 — VCE Psychology — — 11

do we need to know what these are? They aren't on the study design but they came up on the 2017 exam so I'm confused

lilakheils809 —

I've never even heard of them!

zachattack —

Yeh you need to know what they are

sammmmm —

if they were on a past exam then that's kinda an indication that you should know what they are

tyson4920 —

Then what are they?

sammmmm —

agonsts are drugs that mimick the effects of a neurotransmitter by binding to the receptor site on the post-synaptic neuron and activating it. Antagonists are drugs that mimick the effects of a neurotransmitter by binding to the receptor site on the post-synaptic neuron and blocking it

tyson4920 —

why are they used

sammmmm —

agonists are used when someone has low levels of a neurotransmitter and antagonists are used when someone has too much

Julesy —

Welll done Sam

nkaur —

yeah you do need to know what they are as benziodiazepines are agonists

Julesy —

KKDP 11 GABA dysfunction results in low levels of GABA and therefore there can be an overexcitation of the post synaptic neuron - leading to higher than usual anxiety; somethingn that is symptomatic of specific phobia. benzodiazipine' is a GABA agonist - a drug that increases the efficiency of the inhibitiory actions of the GABA receptor sites on the post synaptic neurons - it does produce more GABA - it mimics the effects of GABA, acting as a key that binds to the post synaptic neurons receptor site and unlocking GABA reception, but also increasing its effciciency of inhibitory action by making the receptors more sensitive to GABA. This means that more inhibitory action occurs at the post synaptic receptors for GABA with less GABA. So in turn, benzodiazipine increases inhibition and the over arousal of the nervous system, likely returning it to parasympathetic arousal and reducing the stress response and anxiety, which in turn decreases the likely impact of the phobic stimulus

Julesy —

note - should read it (benzodiazipine) does not produce more GABA - it mimics the effects of GABA,

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