Neurotransmitters, Hormones, and Endocrine System

dopamine

affects mood/emotion, learning/thought, muscle action/movement

(too little → Parkinson’s, too much → schizophrenia)

serotonin

affects sleep, hunger, mood, and arousal

(too little → depression, too much → anxiety)

norepinephrine

adrenaline, mood, arousal from stress, fight-or-flight

(too little → depression, too much → anxiety)

acetylcholine

muscle action/movement, memory/learning, arousal

(too little → Alzheimer’s/paralysis, too much → muscle spasms/convulsions)

endorphins

pain relief, pleasurable emotions

(too little → pain, discomfort, lack of pleasure in life, too much → euphoria/no pain)

glutamate

excitatory effect, memory

(too little → lack of focus, too much → migraines/seizures)

substance P

pain perception

(too little → reduced pain sensitivity, too much → chronic pain)

Parkinson’s disease

caused by breakdown of neurons that produce dopamine

multiple sclerosis

caused by degradation of myelin sheath

Guillain-Barre syndrome

caused by degradation of myelin sheath

myasthenia gravis

caused by blocking/damaging acetylcholine receptors

endocrine system - hormones

hormones = oxytocin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol

pituitary gland

“master gland,” controlled by hypothalamus - produce hormones which signal to the adrenal gland

growth, sexual/reproductive functions, etc

adrenal gland

produce hormones which regulate metabolism, blood pressure, stress