Psych 1101: Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine (ACh) Function

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Dopamine Function

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Serotonin Function

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine Function

Helps control alertness and arousal

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) Function

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Glutamate Function

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Acetylcholine (ACh) Imbalance Examples

Neurons producing this neurotransmitter deteriorates with Alzheimer’s disease

Dopamine Imbalance Examples

Oversupply : Linked to Schizophrenia

Undersupply : Linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson’s disease

Serotonin Imbalance Examples

Undersupply linked to depression. Some antidepressant drugs raise serotonin levels

Norepinephrine Imbalance Levels

Undersupply can depress mood

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) Imbalance Examples

Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

Glutamate Imbalance Examples

Oversupply can overstimulate brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG in food)