Assignment task: Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a neurological degenerative disorder that affects movement. Most people affected with Parkinson's disease demonstrate rigidity, slow movement, and shaking. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur when the cells that produce dopamine neurotransmitters die in the brain. Since most symptoms of Parkinson's disease are caused by insufficient dopamine in the brain, many Parkinson's drugs either temporarily replenish dopamine or mimic the action of dopamine. Explain how the signal transmission at a synapse in an individual with Parkinson's disease is different than an unaffected individual
1. List the steps involved in an action potential moving from the axon terminal of the pre-synaptic neuron to the dendrites of the post-synaptic neuron.
2. Explain how the process is different in individuals affected with Parkinson's disease.