Chemical Messengers AP Psych

Endorphins

A neurotransmitter produced by the body that help relieve pain and induce feelings of pleasure or euphoria.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in the stress response (fight or flight), and mood.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that contributes to the regulation of mood, appetite, and sleep, and is often linked to feelings of well-being and happiness.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward, motivation, and pleasure.

Glutamate

The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in learning and memory.

GABA

A neurotransmitter that inhibits neuronal activity, helping to regulate anxiety and promote relaxation.

Adrenaline

A hormone and neurotransmitter that triggers the body's fight or flight response. Adrenaline is a hormone released from the adrenal gland, and norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that triggers a fight or flight response.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, and is produced by the pineal gland.

Leptin

A hormone that helps to regulate energy balance by reducing hunger. This hormone functions inversely to the hormone, ghrelin.

Substance P

(AKA Substance Pain) A neurotransmitter involved in pain transmission and the inflammatory response in the nervous system.

Oxytocin

A hormone involved in attachment, also known as the "love hormone" for its role in social bonding and emotional regulation.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates appetite, often referred to as the "hunger hormone." It functions inversely to leptin.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in muscle contraction and the regulation of memory and attention.