Neurotransmission is the process by which an incoming electrical signal, or action potential, in a neuron is conve ted into a chemical message at the synapse. 1 Vesicles containing molecules of neurotransmiter dump their cargo into the synaptic clet . The molecules then bind to their receptors on the postsynaptic GLUTAMATE* GABA ACETYLCHOLINE SEROTONIN ACETYLCHOLINE SEROTONIN DOPAMINE NORADRENALINE HISTAMINE membrane and induce their eect, usually the opening of postsynaptic ligand-gated ion channels and the excitation, or inhibition, of the postsynaptic neuron. Excitato y amino acid Inhibito y amino acid Acts as a Acts as a A neuromodulator in A neuromodulator in Impo tant NOREPINEPHRINE Neuromodulator neurotransmiter neurotransmiter, neurotransmiter in neurotransmiter in the central ne vous the central ne vous neuromodulator for Impo tant neuromodulator involved in THIS RAPID SIGNALLING MECHANISM TAKES PLACE ON THE MILLISECOND TIMESCALE. ubiquitous throughout the activates GABA the peripheral ne vous the peripheral ne vous system involved in system than has been movement, dopaminergic of wakefulness and arousal. wakefulness and brain, activates NMDA, receptors throughout system causing system. behaviors related to identiied as impo tant cells are concentrated in In the sympathetic ne vous ale tness. AMPA and kainate the brain, causing muscles to contract. drug abuse, atention, for regulating sleep the basal ganglia. Also system, noradrenaline receptors. hyperpolarisation and food intake, and qualiy, mood, impo tant for enhancing regulates hea t rate and Neuromodulation is a slower mechanism by which molecules of neuromodulators are released by neurons at a synapse, but act on G-protein coupled *Also a neuromodulator via inhibition of the memo y. depression and anxiey. addictive behaviors. blood pressure. metabotropic glutamate postsynaptic neuron. receptors and voltage-gated ion channels on the postsynaptic neuron to modulate its activiy. Neuromodulation is a change in the state of a neuron, or group receptors of neurons, which alters its response to subsequent stimulation². They are also diusible and can act at adjacent synapses.

References THIS SLOWER SIGNALLING MECHANISM TAKES PLACE OVER SECONDS TO MINUTES. 1. Fat, P., & Katz, B. (1952). Spontaneous subthreshold activiy at motor ne ve endings. The Journal of physiology, 117(1), 109-128. 2. Piccioto, M. R., Higley, M. J., & Mineur, Y. S. (2012). Aceylcholine as a neuromodulator: cholinergic signaling shapes ne vous system function and behavior. Neuron, 76(1), 116-129. 3. Passani, M. B., Panula, P., & Lin, J. S. (2014). Histamine in the brain. Frontiers in systems neuroscience, 8, 64. 4. htp://www.brainfacts.org/brain-anatomy-and-function/cells-and-circuits/2012/classical-neurotransmiters-brain-communicators. accessed 3/2018