Name: _____________________________________
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitter
1.Dopamine
Function
Influences
movement,
learning, attention,
& emotion
2. Serotonin
Affects mood,
hunger, sleep, and
arousal
3.Norepinephrine
Helps control
alertness & arousal
4. GABA
A major inhibitory
neurotransmitter
5. Acetylcholine
Major excitatory
NT; causes
contraction of
skeletal muscles,
helps regulate
heart muscles, is
involved in
memory, transmits
messages between
the brain & spinal
cord
A NT similar to
opiate morphine
that relieves pain
6. Endorphins
Surplus
Excess dopamine
receptor activity is
linked to
schizophrenia one
hypothesis of its
cause)
Oversupply can
lead to anxiety and
insomnia
Oversupply can
stimulate brain,
producing
migraines or
seizures (& the
reason why people
avoid MSG in
food)
Euphoria
(“Runner’s high”)
Deficit
Undersupply
produces the
tremors and
decreased mobility
of Parkinson’s
Disease
Undersupply
linked to
depression
Drugs/Therapy
L-Dopa (given to
patients with
Parkinson’s
disease) functions
like a synthetic
form of dopamine)
Undersupply can
depress mood
MAOI’s act on
norepinephrine and
increase norepinephrine
to reduce depression.
MAOIs are used only if
the SSRIs don’t work
though, since diets have
to be changed (e.g. no
cheese)
Undersupply
linked to seizures
and Huntington’s
disease
Benzodiazepine
(Valium) and
anticonvulsant
drugs increase the
activity of GABA)
Botox works by
blocking Ach
release from the
sending neuron,
which paralyzes
facial muscles,
thereby smoothing
wrinkles.
Alzheimer’s
disease
Antidepressant drugs
raise serotonin levels
(selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors,
SSRIs, e.g. Prozac,
Zoloft, Paxil, et
cetera.)
Many painkillers
(e.g. morphine)
work by acting like
endorphins and
relieve pain.
Name: _____________________________________
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitter
1.Dopamine
Function
Influences
movement,
learning, attention,
& emotion
2. Serotonin
Affects mood,
hunger, sleep, and
arousal
3.Norepinephrine
Helps control
alertness & arousal
4. GABA
A major inhibitory
neurotransmitter
5. Acetylcholine
Major excitatory
NT; causes
contraction of
skeletal muscles,
helps regulate
heart muscles, is
involved in
memory, transmits
messages between
the brain & spinal
cord
A NT similar to
opiate morphine
that relieves pain
6. Endorphins
Surplus
Excess dopamine
receptor activity is
linked to
schizophrenia one
hypothesis of its
cause)
Oversupply can
lead to anxiety and
insomnia
Oversupply can
stimulate brain,
producing
migraines or
seizures (& the
reason why people
avoid MSG in
food)
Euphoria
(“Runner’s high”)
Deficit
Undersupply
produces the
tremors and
decreased mobility
of Parkinson’s
Disease
Undersupply
linked to
depression
Drugs/Therapy
L-Dopa (given to
patients with
Parkinson’s
disease) functions
like a synthetic
form of dopamine)
Undersupply can
depress mood
MAOI’s act on
norepinephrine and
increase norepinephrine
to reduce depression.
MAOIs are used only if
the SSRIs don’t work
though, since diets have
to be changed (e.g. no
cheese)
Undersupply
linked to seizures
and Huntington’s
disease
Benzodiazepine
(Valium) and
anticonvulsant
drugs increase the
activity of GABA)
Botox works by
blocking Ach
release from the
sending neuron,
which paralyzes
facial muscles,
thereby smoothing
wrinkles.
Alzheimer’s
disease
Antidepressant drugs
raise serotonin levels
(selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors,
SSRIs, e.g. Prozac,
Zoloft, Paxil, et
cetera.)
Many painkillers
(e.g. morphine)
work by acting like
endorphins and
relieve pain.