There are over 50 known types of neurotransmitters. Which was news to me, as I had never looked into it. My motto leave the psychologist to it,
Whose primary interest Monoamine
Which is group of neurotransmitter that psychologists apparently keep a key eye on?
As they are involved in a number of behaviors such as decision-making, emotional response, happiness, depression, and reward response.... am like perfect for mind control/ consumer.
from the list below, am like there is something missing, as for unknown expectations, am expecting melatonin. Than am like where the gut brain., where the cortisol, below is copy pasted organised information with bit of help from chat gpt and makes no sense to me. As means nothing to me in practical sense... for the moment.
Chakras/ meridians and nervous system seem to studied by the East but not the West.
Knowing how the human body works is essential for the recovery process, and how you want go about it.. for some.
So keep awake if your going to read below
Laters fazmax
Types of monoamines are serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
8 numbered neurotransmitter are main circuit of interest, to well-being
Epinephrine
This neurotransmitter and hormone are also known as adrenaline. This is a stress hormone that is released into the bloodstream via the adrenal glands. This is an excitatory class of neurotransmitter as it stimulates the central nervous system.
If there is too much adrenaline in the bloodstream, this could lead to high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, and an increased risk of a stroke. If there is too little adrenaline, however, this can lead to diminished excitement and not being able to react appropriately in stressful situations, diminishing the stress response.
Norepinephrine
Also produced in the adrenal glands, this neurotransmitter is a naturally occurring chemical, also known as noradrenaline. This is an excitatory neurotransmitter as it stimulates the brain and body, also produced within the brainstem and hypothalamus.
This chemical helps in activating the body and brain to take action during times of stress or when in dangerous situations.
It is especially prevalent during the fight-or-flight response, aiding in alertness. Noradrenaline is at its peak during times of stress but lowest during sleep cycles.
If levels of noradrenaline are too high, this can lead to high blood pressure, excessive sweating, and anxiety. Low levels of this chemical could mean that energy levels are lower, concentration is lacking, and could also contribute to depressed feelings.
1. Dopamine:
Function: Involved in reward, motivation, pleasure, and motor control. It plays a crucial role in the brain's reward system, influencing mood and behavior. A neuroscientist from Stanford called dopamine “the neurotransmitter of more.”
Relation to Mental Health: Dysregulation of dopamine is associated with conditions like schizophrenia (often linked to excess dopamine) and Parkinson's disease (associated with low dopamine levels). It's also connected to addiction and reward-seeking behaviors, as well as depression and ADHD.
Look into dopamine detox
2. Serotonin:
Function: Regulates mood, appetite, sleep, memory, and learning. It's often associated with feelings of well-being and happiness.
Relation to Mental Health: Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Many antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
When High: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, headaches, decreased sex drive, agitation
When Low: Constipation, decreased GI health, depression, anxiety
Purines
Adenosine
Adenosine is a neuromodulator type of neurotransmitter that functions in suppressing arousal and improving sleep cycles. Adenosine is commonly found in the presynaptic regions of the hippocampus and acts as a central nervous system depressant.
Consistently high levels of this neurotransmitter can cause hypersensitivity to touch and heat.
If there is too little adenosine, this can cause anxiety and trouble sleeping. Caffeine is what is known as an adenosine blocker which causes the adenosine receptors to be blocked. This is why caffeine can cause issues with sleeping, and is not recommended to drink too late in the day.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Another type of purine found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. ATP has a role in autonomic control, sensory transduction, and communication with glial cells.
It essentially carries energy between cells through being released by activated neurons and passed onto other active neurons in the brain. ATP is excitatory in several brain regions, such as the hippocampus and somatosensory cortex.
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline):
Function: Involved in the body's "fight or flight" response, affecting attention, arousal, and stress response. It also influences mood and anxiety.
When High: Anxiety, increased heart rate, hypertension
When Low: Depression, lack of focus, low energy
Relation to Mental Health: Norepinephrine affects attention, response to stress, and energy levels. Imbalances are linked to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. is an excitatory neurotransmitter that’s important for attention/focus, sleeping, dreaming, and learning. It raises energy levels and blood pressure and can even serve as a hormone in the body, although it mostly functions as a neurotransmitter.
Some antidepressants, like serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), target this neurotransmitter.
3.GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid):
Function: The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, it reduces neuronal excitability and is involved in regulating muscle tone and preventing anxiety.
Relation to Mental Health: GABA is crucial for calming brain activity. Low levels of GABA are associated with anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and epilepsy. Medications like benzodiazepines enhance GABA activity to reduce anxiety and induce calmness.
When High: Excessive sedation, cognitive impairment, muscle weakness
When Low: Anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, seizures
4.Glutamate:
Function: The main excitatory neurotransmitter, crucial for learning and memory. It is involved in synaptic plasticity, with receptors found in the central nervous system in the neurons and the glia. The process by which connections between neurons are strengthened. If there is an excess amount of glutamate, this could result in excitotoxicity – meaning that neurons are killed due to overactivations of glutamate receptors.
Relation to Mental Health: As the main excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate is involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory. Dysregulation is implicated in conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
5. Glutamate is amino acid, which supports cognitive functions such as memory formation and learning. This is known as the most abundant neurotransmitter, which is found in the central nervous system.
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter
Glutamate:
When High: Neurotoxicity, anxiety, overstimulation
When Low: Cognitive impairment, depression
If these neurons are destroyed, this could lead to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and epilepsy.
If there is not enough glutamate, this could result in psychosis, insomnia, concentration problems, mental exhaustion, or even death.
6. Acetylcholine:
Function: Involved in muscle activation, attention, learning, and memory. It's also critical for the autonomic nervous system, affecting heart rate and digestion.
Acetylcholine is the only known neurotransmitter of its kind found in both the central nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The main function of this type is focused on muscle movements, memory, and learning, associated with motor neurons.
Too much acetylcholine is linked with increased salivation, muscle weakening, blurred vision, and paralysis.
Too little acetylcholine is linked to learning and memory impairments, as well as being shown to have links to dementia and Alzheimer’s, according to research
Relation to Mental Health: Acetylcholine is vital for memory and learning. Altered levels are associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, and it plays a role in attention deficit disorders.
7. Peptides Endorphins:
Function: Act as natural painkillers and are involved in feelings of euphoria and well-being. They are released during exercise, excitement, and other activities.
This is an inhibitory type of neurotransmitter that works in lowering the transmission of pain signals to the brain and promotes feelings of euphoria. In terms of structure, endorphins are similar to opioids and work in similar ways.
Endorphins are primarily made within the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in response to pain but can also be released when completing physical activity (contributing to a ‘runner’s high’).
There are not many known symptoms of having too many endorphins, but it could lead to an addiction to exercise. If there were a deficit in endorphins, this could result in feelings of depression, headaches, anxiety, mood swings, and a condition called fibromyalgia (chronic pain).
Relation to Mental Health: Known as natural painkillers, endorphins are also linked to mood regulation and stress reduction. Low levels of endorphins may contribute to depression and chronic pain conditions.
8. Histamine:
Function: Plays a role in immune responses, regulating sleep-wake cycles, and controlling the release of stomach acid. It also contributes to the inflammatory response.
Histamine:
When High: Anxiety, allergic reactions, insomnia
When Low: Depression, fatigue, cognitive sluggishness
Relation to Mental Health: Beyond its role in allergic reactions, histamine is involved in regulating sleep and wakefulness. Imbalances can lead to issues like insomnia, anxiety, and even certain psychotic symptoms.
Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in regulating mood, emotions, and cognition, making them central to mental health. Imbalances or dysregulation in neurotransmitter systems can contribute to various mental health disorders.
In mental health treatment, understanding and modulating neurotransmitter activity is key to managing symptoms. Medications, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and other treatments often aim to restore balance in these neurotransmitter systems to improve mental health outcomes.
Finish reading well done.