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GCSE Psychology · key term
A protein to which a particular chemical messenger, such as dopamine, can bind and produce an effect on a cell.
Used by OCR
Paper 1
Revise: Biological Explanations of SchizophreniaWhen a signal reaches its ending, dopamine is released into the synaptic gap. It crosses the gap and binds to dopamine receptors on the receiving neuron, influencing that neuron's activity. This process is synaptic transmission.
A structure on a cell to which a particular chemical messenger can bind, affecting the cell’s activity.
Explain the dopamine mechanism as a chain: frequent dopaminergic signalling → increased dopamine release and receptor binding → disrupted brain messages → symptoms.
Distinguish blocking receptors from blocking reuptake: antipsychotics reduce dopamine’s action at receptors, whereas SSRIs keep serotonin available in the synaptic gap for longer.
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