Neurons and Signals · Brain
The chemical messengers that cross the gap.
The chemicals that cross the synapse are called neurotransmitters, and you've heard their names in a hundred headlines: dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline. Almost all of those headlines oversimplify what they do.
A neurotransmitter isn't a mood in a bottle. What it does depends entirely on where it's released and which receptors catch it — the same molecule can excite one circuit and quieten another. Dopamine is not 'the pleasure chemical'; it's more closely tied to anticipation and motivation than to enjoyment itself.
Body Atlas is an educational product. It does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical advice. · Privacy