Module 05: Synapses & Neurotransmitters

Description: This module examines how neurons communicate through synapses & neurotransmitters. Students will explore electrical & chemical synapses, mechanisms of neurotransmitter release & reception, & neural integration. The module covers major neurotransmitter categories including acetylcholine, monoamines, amino acids, neuropeptides, & gases, examining how each affects behavior, mood, & cognition.

Why This Module is Important: Understanding synaptic communication & neurotransmitter function is essential for counseling, clinical practice, & health psychology, forming the foundation for understanding psychoactive medications & disruptions in neurotransmitter systems.

For counselors, this module provides:

• Understanding of how psychotropic medications target neurotransmitter systems for informed client discussions.
• Knowledge of how substances of abuse hijack neurotransmitter systems for addiction counseling.
• Insight into the neurochemical basis of mood, anxiety, & psychotic disorders.
• Understanding of medication timing effects for setting realistic client expectations.

For other psychology professionals, this module supports:

• Research into neurochemical mechanisms & pharmacological treatment development.
• Educational approaches recognizing neurotransmitter effects on learning & memory.
• Clinical decision-making regarding medication referrals & drug interactions.
• Critical evaluation of supplements & alternative treatments.

 Module Learning Objectives: By the end of this module students will be able to…

• MLO1: Identify major synapses, neurotransmitters, & receptors, distinguishing electrical from chemical synapses & ionotropic from metabotropic receptors. (CLO1, ULO5)
• MLO2: Analyze synaptic transmission processes including neurotransmitter synthesis, release, receptor binding, deactivation, & neural integration through summation. (CLO2, CLO3, ULO5)
• MLO3: Evaluate how neurotransmitter systems relate to psychological functions & disorders, & assess implications for psychopharmacological interventions. (CLO2, CLO4, ULO5)

Test Yourself: If you truly “know” this material then you will be able to…

• Describe structural differences between electrical & chemical synapses, identify major neurotransmitter categories, distinguish ionotropic & metabotropic receptors, & classify neurotransmitters (ACh, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA) by chemical family & functions. (MLO1)
• Explain synaptic transmission from action potential arrival to postsynaptic response, trace calcium-triggered neurotransmitter release, compare deactivation mechanisms (diffusion, enzymatic breakdown, reuptake), & analyze how EPSPs & IPSPs combine through summation to reach threshold. (MLO2)
• Evaluate relationships between neurotransmitter dysfunction & psychological disorders (dopamine in schizophrenia & Parkinson’s, serotonin in depression, GABA in anxiety), assess how psychotropic medications target neurotransmitter systems, & discuss implications for counseling about medication options & treatment response. (MLO3)