You are developing a new drug to treat Major DepressiveDisorder (MDD). You know that patients do not show clinical signsof improvement when they begin taking an SSRI. Your goal is tocreate a drug that will result in immediate improvement forpatients, and can be used with SSRIs initially, and discontinuedonce the SSRI becomes fully effective. (10 pointstotal)
a. Explain how SSRIs affect transmission at serotoninsynapses, and why clinical effects are not seen immediately after apatient starts taking this medication. (6 pts)
b. What part of neuronal transmission would you targetwith your drug? Why would this alleviate the issue with SSRIs?(NOTE: Your answer should be logical and specific, and draw on whatwe have covered about communication between neurons thismodule/semester.) (4 pts)
In the first unit of this module, we discussed theneural basis for learning and memory. (10 pointstotal)
a. What connection does the magnesium block on NMDAchannels have to the principle of ‘threshold dependency’ forforming new memories? (3 pts)
b. List one similarity and one difference between therole of NMDA and AMPA channels in the process of LTP. (2pts)
c. What role does calcium play in LTP? (1pt)
d. Whereas LTP is an increase in the effectiveness ofsynapses, LTD is a process by which specific sets of synapses areselectively weakened. Calcium is involved in both LTP and LTD.Explain how different concentrations of calcium would lead to LTPvs. LTD. Be specific in your response, including the enzymesactivated by calcium and the downstream changes to the number ofreceptors embedded in the postsynaptic membrane. (4pts)
