Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters come in all shapes and forms.

  • Acetylcholine
  • Adrenaline
  • Aspartate
  • Dopamine
  • GABA
  • Glutamate
  • Glycine
  • Noradrenaline
  • 5-HT (serotonin)
White background Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Acetylcholine chemical symbol Male anatomy figure Male anatomy with spine and brain highlighted Male anatomy figure with brain highlighted Male anatomy figure with shoulder and thigh highlighted Male anatomy figure with intestines, heart, brain and arm veins highlighted Male anatomy figure with the spine highlighted Male anatomy figure with the spine, brain and muscles highlighted Male anatomy figure with the spine, brain and intestines highlighted

Acetylcholine is released by nerve fibres in the peripheral nervous system. It is also found in some areas of the brain. Note: the peripheral nervous system is all the nerve fibres and synapses outside of the brain and spinal cord; the brain and spinal cord are the central nervous system.

Adrenaline (sometimes called epinephrine) is mainly found in the peripheral nervous system and controls the adrenal glands.

Aspartate like glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter found in the brain and spinal cord.

Dopamine is found in the brain and has a number of important functions. Low levels of dopamine have been linked to parkinson’s disease and high levels to schizophrenia.

Gamma aminobutyric acid is the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glutamate is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter found in the brain and spinal cord.

Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the spinal cord.

Noradrenaline (sometimes called norepinephrine) is the other neurotransmitter along with acetyl choline that is released by certain nerve fibres in the peripheral nervous system. It is also found in the brain and spinal cord. Note: the peripheral nervous system is all the nerve fibres and synapses outside of the brain and spinal cord; the brain and spinal cord are the central nervous system.

About 90% of serotonin is found in the intestines with the rest in the brain and spinal cord.