Neuromodulator
Neuromodulator
Neuromodulator (pronunciation: /ˈnʊəroʊˌmɒdʊˌleɪtər/) is a type of chemical messenger which regulates diverse populations of neurons in the brain. The term is derived from the Greek words 'neuron' meaning nerve and 'modulate' meaning to regulate or adjust.
Neuromodulators are endogenous compounds that alter the way neurons communicate with each other. They are different from neurotransmitters in that they act on groups of neurons rather than individual ones. Neuromodulators can be peptides, lipids, nucleosides, or gases and they can have a variety of effects on neural function.
Types of Neuromodulators
There are several types of neuromodulators, including:
- Dopamine: This neuromodulator is involved in reward, motivation, and motor control. It is also implicated in several disorders, including Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
- Serotonin: Serotonin is involved in mood regulation, appetite, and sleep. It is the target of many antidepressant medications.
- Norepinephrine: This neuromodulator is involved in alertness and arousal. It is also involved in the body's stress response.
- Acetylcholine: Acetylcholine is involved in learning and memory. It is also involved in muscle contraction.
Function
Neuromodulators function by binding to specific receptors on neurons, altering their electrical or chemical properties and thereby modulating their activity. This can result in changes in the strength of synaptic connections, the firing patterns of neurons, or the overall excitability of a neural network.
Clinical Significance
Neuromodulators have significant clinical relevance as they are often the target of pharmaceutical interventions for a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. For example, many antidepressants work by increasing the availability of certain neuromodulators in the brain.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Neuromodulator
- Wikipedia's article - Neuromodulator
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski