Posted by IsoM on April 3, 2002, at 15:43:55
In reply to IsoM: thanks, more: » IsoM, posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 14:32:47
I'll give a number of examples but please don't concern yourself with all the different ones. It's akin to trying to boost your car engine's performance yourself without first understanding the basic principles of internal combustion & gasoline engines.
Here's a number of them. I don't even know if there's more or if researchers are still finding more.
Glutamate: the most common & widespread in the brain, excitatory transmitter
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid): most common & widespread, inhibitory transmitter
Glycine: an amino acid used in nerve transmission too
Acetylcholine: abbreviated as ACh
Serotonin: also called 5-hyroxytrytomine or 5-HT
Dopamine
Norepinephrine: also called noradrenaline in Britain
Epinephrine: also called adrenaline in Britain
Histamine
Substance P: a neuropeptide discovered recently to be involved with the slow pain system
Endorphins: includes beta-endorphin, enkephalins, dynorphins (which I know nothing about)
Nitric oxide: involved in many functions in the body plus involved in the brain with memory retentionThese aare also calcium, sodium, & potassium ions that move inside & outside the neurons which provide the electrical potential of the neurons.
Is this all there is? And has it been nicely summarised? I doubt it. If I know a subject inside out, I can simplify it to make it more understandable for others (like horticulture) but what I know of neurobiology is made up hodgepodge style from years of learning & reading. I wish I'd learned it correctly from a solid base of knowledge, then it might be a lot clearer for me too.
I think you're plenty intelligent to learn all this, but it did take most of us years. Attempting to get it all straight in a matter of weeks or months may cause your head to explode. Be warned! :-)
poster:IsoM
thread:101629
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020402/msgs/101707.html