neurotransmitters
name | function | low levels | high levels | excitatory/inhibitory |
serotonin | mood, hunger, sleep, arousal, pain | depression, anxiety, mood disorders | shivering, seizures, hallucinations | inhibitory |
norepinephrine (adrenaline) | fight or flight, alertness, arousal, memory, learning, eating | depression | anxiety | excitatory |
acetylcholine | movement, memory | paralysis, alzheimers disease/dementia | muscle contractions, convulsions, death | excitatory |
glutamate | memory, thinking, learning | panic attacks, anxiety, depression | agitation, memory loss, sleeplessness, low energy | excitatory |
GABA | calming, balances excitatory msgs, regulates anxiety, regulates sleep/wake | anxiety, tremors | sleep/eating disorders | inhibitory |
endorphins | euphoria, natural painkillers, pleasure (high), response to pain/exercise | pain | may not give pain signals | inhibitory |
dopamine | reward, pleasure, movement | parkinson’s disease, muscle rigidity | schizophrenia, addiction | excitatory |
substance P | sends pain signals from other places to brain/spine | reduced pain sensitivity + motor control | inflammation, depression | excitatory |