Neurochemistry



Neurochemistry is the branch of neuroscience devoted to the study of neurochemicals. A neurochemical is an neurotransmitters and other molecules such as neuro-active drugs that influence neuron function.

History

The founding of neurochemistry as a discipline traces it origins to a series of "International Neurochemical Symposia", of which the first symposium volume published in 1954 was titled Biochemistry of the Developing Nervous System.[1] These meetings led to the formation of the International Society for Neurochemistry and the American Society for Neurochemistry. These early gatherings discussed the tentative nature of possible synaptic transmitter substances such as serotonin were classified as "putative neurotransmitters in certain neuronal tracts in the brain."

Examples of neurochemicals

 

  • The neuropeptide peptide form. Specific parts of the brain such as the supraoptic nucleus produce oxytocin which acts on cells in locations such as the ventral pallidum to produce the behavioral effects of oxytocin. A large amount of oxytocin is made in the hypothalamus, transported to the posterior lobe of the pituitary and released into the blood stream by which it reaches target tissues such as the mammary glands (milk letdown). In the diagram inset, oxytocin is shown bound to a carrier protein, neurophysin.
  • Other examples of neurochemicals
    • action potential. (Note: Glutamate is chemically identical to the MSG commonly used to flavor Chinese food.)
    • GABA is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
    • Dopamine is another example of a neurotransmitter. It plays a key role in the functioning of the limbic system, which is involved in emotional function and control.
    • Serotonin plays a regulatory role in mood, sleep, and other areas.
    • Acetylcholine assists motor function.
    • Nitric oxide functions as a neurotransmitter, despite being a gas. It is not grouped with the other neurotransmitters because it is not released in the same way.
    • endocannabinoid system to control neurotransmitter release in a host of neuronal tissues, including the hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia, and cerebellum.
    • Eicosanoids act as neurotransmitters via the Arachidonic acid cascade.[2]


See also

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Neuroplasticity or Synaptic plasticity

References

  1. ^ Siegel, George J.; Albers, R.W., Brady, S.T., Price, D.L. (2006). Basic Neurochemistry, 7th Ed.. Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-088397-X. 
  2. ^ Piomelli, Daniele (2000). "Arachidonic Acid". Retrieved on 2006-03-03.

Neuroscience subfields:

Edit
Behavioral Neurology | Biological Psychology | Cognitive Neuroscience | Cognitive Psychophysiology | Computational Neuroscience | Molecular Cellular Cognition | Psychopharmacology | Psychophysiology | Systems Neuroscience

Psychology subfields:

Edit
Behavioral Neurology | Cognitive Psychology | Cognitive Neuroscience | Biological Psychology | Neuroimaging | Psycholinguistics | Psychophysics | Psychophysiology | Neuropsychology | Neuropsychiatry | Psychopharmacology | Systems Neuroscience | Mathematical Psychology | Developmental Psychology | Social Psychology | Clinical Psychology | Evolutionary Psychology | Forensic Psychology | Experimental Psychology
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Neurochemistry". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.