There are many different neurotransmitters in the CNS, each binding to a specific receptor type which has a distinct distribution and role.1-3 Some common neurotransmitters are listed in the table on this slide. Defects in many neurotransmitter pathways have been implicated in psychiatric disorders.1-3
The variety of neurotransmitters that operate within the CNS adds to the functional complexity of the brain.1,2 Different neurotransmitters can produce different responses on the same neurone; e.g., a neurone might be excited by serotonin but inhibited by the binding of GABA.1,2
Exactly what constitutes a neurotransmitter has been the subject of some disagreement but, generally, a neurotransmitter must:1,2
- be present within the presynaptic neurone
- be released in response to presynaptic depolarisation, and the release must be calcium-dependent
- have specific receptors on the postsynaptic neurone.
References
- Kandel ER, Koester JD, Mack SH, Siegelbaum SA (eds). Principles of Neural Science. 6th Edition. © McGraw-Hill, 2021.
- Purves D, Augustine GJ, Groh J, et al. (eds). Neuroscience. 7th Edition. Oxford University Press, 2024.
- Stahl SM. Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology. Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. 5th Edition. © Cambridge University Press, 2021.