What is the receptor site in psychology?
a region of specialized membrane on the surface of a cell (e.g., a neuron) that contains receptor molecules that receive and react with particular messenger molecules (e.g., neurotransmitters).
What is a receptor site definition?
Receptor sites are proteins typically found on the surface of cells, which are capable of recognizing and bonding to specific molecules. Molecules that bind to receptor sites are known as ligands. Hormones, neurotransmitters, and drugs are examples of ligands.
What happens when receptor sites are blocked?
If the receptor sites for the neurotransmitter are blocked, the neurotransmitter is not able to act on that receptor. Most of the time, the neurotransmitter will then be taken back up by the neuron that released it, in a process known as “reuptake”.
Where are neurotransmitter receptor sites located?
plasma membrane
Neurotransmitter receptors are present in the plasma membrane of postsynaptic cells (in some cases also in the presynaptic terminal), which selectively bind the transmitter. They are integral membrane glycoproteins with multiple transmembrane segments.
What is the synaptic gap psychology definition?
: the space between neurons at a nerve synapse across which a nerve impulse is transmitted by a neurotransmitter. — called also synaptic gap.
What holds a drug to its receptor site?
Molecules (eg, drugs, hormones, neurotransmitters) that bind to a receptor are called ligands. The binding can be specific and reversible. A ligand may activate or inactivate a receptor; activation may increase or decrease a particular cell function.
What are the four main actions a drug can have after binding to a receptor?
A drug can interact with four principle protein targets such as ion channels (nimodipine and voltage-gated Ca2+ ion channels), enzymes (neostigmine and acetylcholinesterase), membrane carriers (tricyclic antidepressants and catecholamine uptake-1) and receptors (Lambert, 2004).
