Neurotransmitters

acetylcholine

areas of concentration: neuromouscular junction, autonomic NS (parasympathetic), motor nuclei of cranial nerves, basal ganglia, portions of brainstem and limbic system
receptor: iontotropic or metabotropic

action: excitatory (ionto); excitatory or inhibitory (metabo)

action termination: enzymatic degradation

norepinephrine

areas of concentration: sympathetic NS, locus ceruleus (projects to widespread targets within CNS)

receptor: metabotropic

action: excitatory or inhibitory

action termination: passive diffusion, reuptake (presynaptic and glial), and enzymatic degradation

dopamine

areas of concentration: basal ganglia (substantia nigra), hypothalamus, ventral tegmental area

receptor: metabotropic

action: inhibitory (mostly)

action termination: reuptake, enzymatic degradation, and passive diffusion

serotonin

areas of concentration: parasympathetic neurons, pineal gland, raphe nucleus

receptor: iontotropic and metabotropic

action: excitatory (ionto); excitatory or inhibitory (metabo)

action termination: reuptake

glutamate

areas of concentration: cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, hippocampus, spinal cord

receptor: iontotropic and metabotropic

action: excitatory (both ionto and metabo)

action termination: reuptake and diffusion

GABA

areas of concentration: cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus

receptor: iontotropic and metabotropic

action: inhibitory (both ionto and metabo)

action termination: reuptake (neurons and glia)