NEUROTRANSMITTERS THE MESSENGERS OF NERVE CELLS

COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NERVE CELLS HAPPENS VIA THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS, WHICH BIND TO RECEPTORS ON THE DENDRITES OF THE ADJACENT NEURONS. EXCITATORY MESSAGES FROM NEUROTRANSMITTERS SERVE TO EXCITE THE CELL (CAUSE IT TO “FIRE”) INHIBITORY MESSAGES PREVENT THE CELL FROM FIRING, OR STOP IT FROM FIRING. AFTER A NEUROTRANSMITTER IS RELEASED AND HAS CONDUCTED THE IMPULSE TO THE NEXT CELL/CELLS, IT IS EITHER BROKEN DOWN BY ENZYMES OR IS ABSORBED BACK INTO THE CELL IN A PROCESS CALLED REUPTAKE. SODIUM AND POTASSIUM ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE FIRING OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS FROM A NEURON.

A METAPHOR A HELPFUL METAPHOR FOR THE PROCESS OF CELL COMMUNICATION: THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS ARE THE KEYS THAT OPEN THE LOCKS ON THE POST- SYNAPTIC CELL.

SOME KEY NEUROTRASNMITTERS AcetylcholineSerotoninDopamineGABAGlutamateNorepinephrineEndorphins Affects memory function Affects muscle contraction (particularly in the heart) Related to arousal, sleep, pain sensitivity, and hunger Plays an important part in mood regulation. Associated with movement, attention, and “reward” Dopamine imbalances may play a role in Parkinson’s and Schizophre- nia. Dopamine imbalance caused by bath salts. An inhibitory neurotrans- mitter It plays a role in regulating neural e xcitability throughout the nervous system. GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone. A major excitatory neurotransmitte r; involved in memory Affects level of alertness A lack of norepinephr-ine can be associated with depression. The body’s natural painkillers. Released whenever pain is triggered. When drugs like heroin and morphine are abused, natural endorphin production can be stunted.

ACETYLCHOLINE ACETYLCHOLINE WAS THE FIRST NEUROTRANSMITTER TO BE DISCOVERED. IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE STIMULATION OF MUSCLES, INCLUDING THE MUSCLES OF THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL SYSTEM. IT IS ALSO FOUND IN SENSORY NEURONS AND IN THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND HAS A PART IN SCHEDULING REM (DREAM) SLEEP. THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN ACETYLCHOLINE AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF A 90% LOSS OF ACETYLCHOLINE IN THE BRAINS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER'S, WHICH IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF SENILITY. THE WELL-KNOWN POISON BOTULIN WORKS BY PREVENTING THE VESICLES IN THE AXON ENDING FROM RELEASING ACETYLCHOLINE, CAUSING PARALYSIS.

SEROTONIN SEROTONIN IS AN INHIBITORY NEUROTRANSMITTER – WHICH MEANS THAT IT DOES NOT STIMULATE THE BRAIN. ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF SEROTONIN ARE NECESSARY FOR A STABLE MOOD AND TO BALANCE ANY EXCESSIVE EXCITATORY (STIMULATING) NEUROTRANSMITTER FIRING IN THE BRAIN. IF YOU USE STIMULANT MEDICATIONS OR CAFFEINE IN YOUR DAILY REGIMEN – IT CAN CAUSE A DEPLETION OF SEROTONIN OVER TIME. LOW SEROTONIN LEVELS LEADS TO AN INCREASED APPETITE FOR CARBOHYDRATES (STARCHY FOODS) AND TROUBLE SLEEPING, WHICH ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION AND OTHER EMOTIONAL DISORDERS. IT HAS ALSO BEEN TIED TO MIGRAINES, IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, AND FIBROMYALGIA. LOW SEROTONIN LEVELS ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTION. IN ADDITION TO MOOD CONTROL, SEROTONIN HAS BEEN LINKED WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING THE REGULATION OF SLEEP, PAIN PERCEPTION, BODY TEMPERATURE, BLOOD PRESSURE AND HORMONAL ACTIVITY

DOPAMINE CONTROL FLOW OF BLOOD THROUGH THE BRAIN MOTOR CONTROL (NIGROSTRIATAL) SYSTEM BEHAVIORAL CONTROL DOPAMINE IS THE BRAIN’S MOTIVATIONAL CHEMICAL. IT WORKS ON GLUTAMATE SYNAPSES TO MODULATE THEIR EXCITABILITY. MALFUNCTION TOO LITTLE: CAN CAUSE SHAKINESS THROUGHOUT THE BODY, TREMORS, AND DECREASED MOBILITY--PARKINSON'S TOO MUCH--HALLUCINATIONS--SCHIZOPHRENIA DOPAMINE’S ACTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR DRUG ADDICTION.

GABA GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID(GABA) IS THE MAJOR INHIBITORY NEUROTRANSMITTER THAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS “NATURE’S VALIUM-LIKE SUBSTANCE”. WHEN GABA IS OUT OF RANGE (HIGH OR LOW EXCRETION VALUES), IT IS LIKELY THAT AN EXCITATORY NEUROTRANSMITTER IS FIRING TOO OFTEN IN THE BRAIN. GABA WILL BE SENT OUT TO ATTEMPT TO BALANCE THIS STIMULATING OVER-FIRING. PEOPLE WITH TOO LITTLE GABA TEND TO SUFFER FROM ANXIETY DISORDERS, AND DRUGS LIKE VALIUM WORK BY ENHANCING THE EFFECTS OF GABA. LOTS OF OTHER DRUGS INFLUENCE GABA RECEPTORS, INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND BARBITURATES. IF GABA IS LACKING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BRAIN, EPILEPSY RESULTS.

GLUTAMATE -MAJOR EXCITATORY NEUROTRANSMITTER -MEMORY TOO MUCH=OVERSTIMULATES BRAIN PRODUCING MIGRAINES/SEIZURES

NOREPINEPHRINE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: SLEEP AND HEART RATE - SEXUAL RESPONSIVENESS -CONTROL ALERTNESS -AROUSAL -LEARNING AND MEMORY MALFUCTION - TOO LITTLE; DEPRESSED MOODS, ANXIETY, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

ENDORPHINS PLEASURABLE SENSATIONS/CONTROL OF PAIN. LOWERED LEVELS RESULTING FROM OPIATE ADDICTION MALFUNCTION TOO MUCH – INCAPABLE OF FEELING PAIN, DIFFICULTY THINKING STRAIGHT TOO LITTLE – INABILITY TO DEAL WITH PAIN