The Basics
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between these cells.
What are neurons?
This neurotransmitter helps regulate mood, appetite, and sleep.
What is serotonin?
Low levels of serotonin are commonly linked with this mental health disorder.
What is depression?
This type of drug increases neurotransmitter activity.
What is an agonist?
The part of the neuron that carries the action potential away from the cell body
What is the axon?
This small gap between neurons is where neurotransmitters travel.
What is the synaptic cleft (or synapse)?
These “feel-good” neurotransmitters act as natural painkillers.
What are endorphins?
Excess dopamine activity is associated with this serious mental disorder.
What is schizophrenia?
This type of drug decreases or blocks neurotransmitter activity.
What is an antagonist?
This part of the neuron receives and integrates messages
What are the dendrites?
This neurotransmitter is most associated with pleasure, reward, and motivation.
What is dopamine?
This neurotransmitter prepares the body for fight-or-flight responses.
What is norepinephrin?
A lack of acetylcholine is linked to this neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) increase levels of this neurotransmitter.
What is serotonin?
The junction in which neurotransmitters are sent between neurons
What is the synapse?
This neurotransmitter enables muscle movement and is linked to learning and memory.
What is acetylcholine (ACh)?
The neurotransmitter that is an excitatory, involved in memory, and can be found in some food
What is Glutamate?
Low levels of GABA are linked to these conditions
What are seizures, tremors, and insomnia?
Drugs like heroin or morphine mimic this type of neurotransmitter.
What are endorphins?
The phase in which a neuron is firing
What is depolarization?
This neurotransmitter is the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
What is GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)?
This neurotransmitter is associated with our reward pathway, and is released when we use things like TikTok
What is dopamine?
Overactivation of glutamate can lead to these conditions
What are migraines and seizures?
Nicotine acts as an agonist for this neurotransmitter that controls muscle movement.
What is acetylcholine?
This happens to neurotransmitters when there are not enough receptor sites for all of them
What is reuptake?