Serotonin 🧠
Serotonin is a tryptamine neurotransmitter who’s biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vasoconstriction.
Serotonin is sythesized in a part of the brain called the dorsal raphe nuclei. Its primary building block is the amino acid tryptophan. it binds with at least fourteen different receptors, and these are found not only across many parts of the brain but throughout the body, with a substantial representation in the digestive tract. Depending on the type of receptor in question and its location, serotonin is liable to make very different things happen—sometimes exciting a neuron to fire, other times inhibiting it. When serotonin signals are interpreted in the brain either separately or together, we describe the neural experience as some version of happiness. It is known that serotonin in the brain is partially involved in contentment and well-being. Serotonin is often called the policeman of the brain because it helps keep brain activity under control. It influences mood, impulsivity, anger, and aggressiveness.
References
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Lustig, H., Robert. (2017). The Hacking of the American Chapter 7. Contentment and Serotonin (Location 1375). New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
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Pollan, Micheal. (2018). How to Change Your Mind What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (Location 3992). New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
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Haley, J., John. Hagerman, Eric. (2008). Spark Chapter 2. Learning (p. 45). New York, NY: Little Brown Spark.
Metadata
Type:🔵 Tags: Biology / Biochemistry / Neuroscience Status:☀️