Acetylcholine

Description

Introduction
Produced in several locations including the basal
forebrain.
formation of memories, verbal and logical reasoning, and
the ability to concentrate. Acetylcholine also offers
protective benefits and may limit the neurological decay
associated with degenerative diseases.]
Specific cells geared to respond only to acetylcholine
distributed all through the various section of the brain.
The receptors, when activated, allow for communication
from the basal forebrain to the hippocampus, 2 areas
which manage memory and learning.

The effect of
Acetylcholine

Excessive Acetylcholine
Creates spasms or tremors
Larger quantities ACh acts like an
inhibitory neurotransmitter, causing
increased nervous system inhibition
(depression).
As ACh levels go up in the brain, the levels
of the other brain transmitters go down.

Too little Acetylcholine

Memory impairments
Feel despair and lack joy
Anti social behaviors
Lose concentration
Too little in the hippocampus has
been associated with dementia.

Support Study

Martinez and Kesner (1991) in

memory formation
Aim: To investigate the role of Ach in
memory formation
Procedure: Experimental study using rats.
They were trained to run a maze. They were
divided into 3 groups.
Group 1: received injection with
scopolamine
Group 2: received injection with
physostigmine
Group 3: The control group

Results
Group 1: had problems finding their way through the maze and
made more mistakes
Group 2: ran quickly through the maze and made a few mistakes.
The group is quicker than the control group

Evaluation
The study shows that Ach is
important in memory since the
rats has showed different
memory capacity depending on
Ach level. Since controlled
laboratory experiment, it can
be concluded that the level of
Ach is one factor that affects
memory

Effect of Drugs
Nicotine

Nicotine is shaped similarly to acetylcholine,

it can fit in the same receptors and act just
like acetylcholine. Nicotine will also mimics
the actions of acetylcholine. Long term
consuming nicotine will cause more activity
at the acetylcholine receptors than usual
because the receptors are being activated by
both acetylcholine and nicotine. This change
in balance causes the brain to think there
is too much acetylcholine and react by
reducing the number of receptors and
releasing less acetylcholine into the synapse.
The brain now needs nicotine to maintain
normal functioning and once the nicotine
user stop using it then the user will feel
abnormal.

Effect of Drugs
Black widow(spider)
venom

Common effects of the black widow bite include severe cramping

and stiffness in the abdominal area. Other short-term symptoms
may include nausea, fever, sweating, tremors, difficulty
breathing, increased blood pressure, anxiety and restlessness.

Citation
Symptoms of High Acetylcholine: http://mindrenewal.us/page13.html
Acetylcholine Neurotransmission (Section 1, Chapter 11)
Neuroscience Online: nba.uth.tmc.edu
The Role of Acetylcholine Mechanisms in Affective Disorders:
www.acnp.org
Acetylcholine deficiency www.nutritional-healing.com.au
Printed Notes: Explain using one or more examples, the effect of
neurotransmissions on human behaviors
Acetylcholine -- Britannica School: school.eb.co.uk

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/brain-power/grades
-6-9/legal-doesn't-mean-harmless-module-2/background

http://www.ehow.com/info_8411255_longterm-effects-blackwidows.html