GABA Functions Explained
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its main role is to reduce neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.
Key Roles of GABA
- Inhibitory Action: GABA works by decreasing the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential. This calming effect is crucial for preventing over-excitation.
- Sleep Regulation: GABA plays a significant role in promoting sleep. It helps to quiet down the brain activity, facilitating the transition into sleep and maintaining sleep cycles.
- Motor Control: GABA contributes to inhibitory movement by regulating motor neuron activity in the spinal cord and brainstem, ensuring smooth and controlled muscle movements.
While GABA is primarily inhibitory, its functions are complex and essential for maintaining overall nervous system balance, particularly in sleep and movement.
Important Questions from Nervous system
Which one of the following synaptic vesicle proteins is involved in tethering of the vesicle to the cytoskeletal system in the nerve terminus?
In the nervous system, the action potential is generated at the axon hillock in physiological conditions and it is conducted to the terminal end of axon. The location specific origin of action potential and its direction-specific conduction are explained by a researcher in the following proposed statements:
A. The membrane of axon hillock has highest threshold for the generation of action potential
B. The membrane of axon hillock contains large numbers of voltage-gated Na+ channels and that makes it more excitable
C. The propagating action potential in the middle of the axon cannot generate another action potential in the direction of cell body since a large fraction of voltage-gated Na+ channels in the preceding portion is voltage inactivated
D. As the number of voltage-gated Na+ channels is less in the preceding portion of axonal membrane, the propagating action potential in the middle of the axon cannot generate another action potential in the direction of cell body.
Which one of the following combinations represents both correct explanations?
Which one of the following is NOT released by sympathetic preganglionic neurons?
The time taken by synaptic vesicles to travel from the soma of a motor neuron in the spinal cord to its neuromuscular junction in a person’s foot by fast axon transport is about‐
The release of which neurotransmitter from the rods of retina is reduced when light strikes its outer segment?
