BioPsychology 1

Common Neurotransmitters

COMMON NEUROTRANSMITTERS (NTs)

Neurotransmitter Location Effect Function Malfunction

Acetylcholine (ACh) Brain, spinal cord, Excitatory in brain and Muscle movement, Alzheimer’s disease: ACh-producing
peripheral nervous autonomic nervous cognitive functioning neurons deteriorate in hippocampus
system (especially some system; Inhibitory (learning and memory) causing memory problems
organs of the elsewhere
parasympathetic nervous Botulism (a rare and potentially fatal illness
system) caused by a toxin, produced by the
bacterium Clostridium botulinum.): blocks
ACh that leads to paralysis of respiratory
system

Black widow spider bite: A person who gets

bitten by a black widow spider might not
know it right away, since the bite can
sometimes feel like a little pinprick. After
30 to 40 minutes, though, the area of the
bite will swell and hurt a lot, and
sometimes a person can get achy all over.

Glutamate Brain, spinal cord Major excitatory NT Memory Oversupply: over stimulate brain leading to
migraine or seizures (why some avoid MSG,
monosodium glutamate, in food)

Damage after stroke:

Sometimes brain damage or stroke leads to
excess and many more brain cells die than
from original trauma
 BioPsychology 2
Common Neurotransmitters

ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a

progressive neurodegenerative disease that
affects nerve cells in the brain and the
spinal cord. A-myo-trophic comes from the
Greek language. "A" means no. "Myo"
refers to muscle, and "Trophic" means
nourishment – “No muscle nourishment”.
Also known as the Lou Gehrig’s Disease:
Excessive glutamate production

Schizophrenia – lack of glutamate

production (negative symptoms)

Gamma-amino Brain, spinal cord Major inhibitory NT Eating, aggression, Undersupply of GABA is linked to seizures
butyric acid (GABA) sleeping (epilepsy), tremors, insomnia, and anxiety.

Huntington’s disease (also known as

Huntington's chorea, is an inherited
disorder that results in death of brain cells.
The earliest symptoms are often subtle
problems with mood or mental abilities. A
general lack of coordination and an
unsteady gait often follow. As the disease
advances, uncoordinated, jerky body
movements become more apparent.
Physical abilities gradually worsen until
coordinated movement becomes difficult
and the person is unable to talk.)
 BioPsychology 3
Common Neurotransmitters

Valium works by enhancing effects of GABA

Dopamine (DA) Brain Inhibitory or excitatory Influences movement, Excess dopamine receptor activity linked to
learning, attention, and schizophrenia (positive symptoms)
emotion
Lack of dopamine, the brain produces
Strongly associated with tremors and decreased mobility of
reward mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease
brain

Play part of rewarding

property in drugs like
cocaine, alcohol, opium,
heroin, nicotine… These
increase Dopamine.

Serotonin Brain, spinal cord Inhibitory Affects mood, hunger, Undersupply – linked OCD, anxiety, mood
sleep, arousal, and disorders (depression), anger control,
impulsivity insomnia, and suicide

Prozac and other antidepressant increase

serotonin levels

Drink warm milk at night – help you sleep

because it contains an amino acid that
brain uses to make serotonin (relax)

Plays a role in schizophrenia, may interact

with dopamine system to alter the way it
 BioPsychology 4
Common Neurotransmitters

operates.

*Role in perception: LSD (Lysergic Acid

Diethylamide) mimics serotonin in the
brain. The body mistakes LSD for serotonin
and shoots across the synaptic cleft.

Endorphins Brain, spinal cord Primarily inhibitory, except Pain suppression, If brain is flooded with opiates like heroin
(Endogenous in hippocampus pleasurable feelings, and morphine the brain may stop
morphine) appetite placebo producing these natural opiates.

Responsible for allowing Heroin slows heart rate, respiration, and

bears and other animals to metabolism in general.
hibernate.

Norepinephrine (or Brain, spinal cord Excitatory Helps control alertness and Undersupply can depress mood
Noradrenaline) arousal
Oversupply – insomnia
Mood, sleep, learning

Increases heart rate and

slows digestion during
stress