1.3 Neurotransmitters and Hormones

Adrenaline

Gives our bodies action in order to fight, flight, or freeze. HORMONE - both in and exc

Leptin

Regulates hunger and energy balance. Tells the brain when it has sufficient energy and stops eating (suppresses hunger). HORMONE

Ghrelin

It stimulates hunger, increases when you´re hungry. HORMONE

Melatonin

Regulates sleep-wake cycle. HORMONE

Oxytocin

Related with childbirth, labor, lactation, and love. HORMONE

Dopamine

Regulates movement, motivation, and learning. Helps your brain learn which actions are rewarding and worth repeating (reward system). N.T.

Acetycholine

Helps control muscle movement, voluntary or involuntary. Interneuron communication. N.T.

Serotonin

Regulates moods and emotional states. Regulation in body and emotions, and in sleep. N.T.

Norepinephrine

Fight or flight responses, attention and alertness. N.T.

GABA

Regulates sleep-wake cycle. Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter. Reduces neural activity and helps regulate anxiety, relaxation, and sleep (making neurons less likely to fire). N.T.

Substance P

Transmits pain signals from the body to the brain. N.T.

Endorphins

Modulates the experience of pain or pleasure. (regulates pain) Natural painkillers. N.T.

Glutamate

Helps with learning and memory. Carries information from motor and sensory neurons to the brain, spine, muscles, and nerves. And helps complete the process of memory consolidation.

Neurotransmitters vs Drugs

N.T.: internal chemicals (excitatory and inhibitory)

Drugs: external chemicals (agonist, antagonist, and reuptake inhibitor)

Agonist

Enhances the effect of N.T. (mimics its behavior)

Antagonist

Prevents the effect of N.T. (blocks receptors or does not let them out)

Reuptake Inhibitor

Enhances the effects of N.T. (blocks the reabsorption of N.T.)

Stimulants

Increases neural activity. (makes people alert) (overuse leads to drowsiness). Stimulants speed up CNS activity

EX: caffeine, cocaine

Depressants

Slowed down brain activity. (Overuse can lead to impaired judgment, slowed reactions, dependence, and dangerously reduced breathing.) Depressants slow down CNS activity

EX: alcohol

Hallucinogens

Distortions in perception and cognition. (overuse causes impaired judgement and distortion in time) (can de caused by genetic predisposition).

EX: Marijuana

Opioids

Pain relivers (highly addictive)

EX: Morphine, heroin

Tolerance

Requiring larger doses in order to feel the same effect (in the body)

Addiction

Disease involving psychological or physical dependence (involuntary)

Withdrawal

Symptoms associated with stopping use.