neurotransmission
Brain cell messaging
Neurotransmission is the process by which nerve cells communicate with each other and with muscles or glands.
Electrical signals traveling along a neuron trigger the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which cross the gap between cells and bind to receptors on the receiving cell.
This electrochemical relay underlies everything from reflexes to thought: Dopamine neurotransmission plays a key role in reward and motivation.
Nerve signal crossing point
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- presynapticBefore the neural junction
- exocytosisVesicular release from cells
- endocytosisCell engulfs external material
receptor · membrane · depolarization · repolarization · threshold · excitatory · inhibitory
Neuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- myelinNerve fiber insulation
- reuptakeNeurotransmitter recapture by neurons
- neuroplasticityBrain's self-rewiring ability
neurogenesis · astrocyte · glial · soma · transporter · neuromodulation · sensitization · desensitization
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
norepinephrine · epinephrine · neuropeptides · endorphins · histamine · glycine · adenosine · oxytocin
Relating to tobacco's active compound
- adrenergicActivated by epinephrine-type compounds
- serotonergicActing via serotonin
- cholinergicAcetylcholine-mediated neural signaling
- voltage-gatedResponsive to electrical gradients
synapse
Nerve signal crossing point
- vesicleSmall fluid-filled sac
- presynapticBefore the neural junction
- exocytosisVesicular release from cells
endocytosis · receptor · membrane · depolarization · repolarization · threshold · excitatory · inhibitory
axon
Neuron's signal-sending projection
- dendriteNeuron's input branch
- myelinNerve fiber insulation
- reuptakeNeurotransmitter recapture by neurons
neuroplasticity · neurogenesis · astrocyte · glial · soma · transporter · neuromodulation · sensitization · desensitization
dopamine
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
GABA · norepinephrine · epinephrine · neuropeptides · endorphins · histamine · glycine · adenosine · oxytocin · melatonin
nicotinic
Relating to tobacco's active compound
- adrenergicActivated by epinephrine-type compounds
- serotonergicActing via serotonin
- cholinergicAcetylcholine-mediated neural signaling
- brain functionscognition, attention, thinking, reasoning, learning
- Neurochemistrydopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, acetylcholine
- bioelectricityaction potential, depolarization, repolarization, hyperpolarization, axon
- nerve signalsaction potential, nerve impulses, nerve impulse, nerve signals, depolarization
- synapsessynapse, presynaptic, SNARE proteins
- cell signalingreceptor, ligand, receptors, signaling, kinase
transmit, transmission, neural, neuron, transmissible, neuralgia, neuronal, neurotransmitter, neuromuscular