What are neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals from one nerve cell (neuron) to the next across synapses. Neurotransmitters have a wide variety of roles in many of the processes in the body.
There are two types of neurotransmitters – excitatory and inhibitory.
- Excitatory neurotransmitters – stimulate the brain (acetylcholine, dopamine, epinephrine, glutamate, norepinephrine)
- Inhibitory neurotransmitters – calm the brain and balance the moods (dopamine, GABA, serotonin)
Dopamine is considered both an excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Important neurotransmitters facts
- The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell the stomach to digest food, the heart to beat and the lungs to breathe
- Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transfer messages between different brain cells
Why neurotransmitters are important
The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest. They can also affect mood, sleep, concentration, weight, and can cause adverse symptoms when they are out of balance. Neurotransmitter levels can be depleted many ways.
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
GABA
- nature’s natural relaxer
- balances high levels of excitatory neurotransmitters
- low levels of GABA could lead to anxiety
Dopamine
- helps with depression
- regulates mood
- low levels of dopamine make the brain fuzzy
Serotonin
- balances and stabilises mood
- regulates carbohydrate cravings, sleep cycle and pain control
- signals fullness to stop eating
- balances high levels of excitatory neurotransmitters
- low serotonin levels be link to lowered immunity
Excitatory neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine
- Controls muscle movement
Dopamine
- enables better mental focus and clarity of mind
- responsible for high energy, motivation, hunger regulation and sex drive
- low levels of dopamine make the brain fuzzy
- responsible for motivation and the desire to complete projects / activities / tasks
Epinephrine
- reflective of high stress levels
- regulates heart rate and blood pressure
- long-term stress/insomnia causes epinephrine levels to be depleted
Glutamate
- helps to regulate mood
- plays a crucial role in learning and memory
- abnormal levels can contribute to diseases such as Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Norepinephrine
- helps to make epinephrine
- can cause anxiety at elevated levels
- low levels are associated with low energy, inability to focus and sleep problems