Neurotransmission is the process by which an incoming electrical signal, or action potential, in a neuron is conveted 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. Excitatoy amino acid Inhibitoy amino acid Acts as a Acts as a A neuromodulator in A neuromodulator in Impotant NOREPINEPHRINE Neuromodulator neurotransmiter neurotransmiter, neurotransmiter in neurotransmiter in the central nevous the central nevous neuromodulator for Impotant neuromodulator involved in THIS RAPID SIGNALLING MECHANISM TAKES PLACE ON THE MILLISECOND TIMESCALE. ubiquitous throughout the activates GABA the peripheral nevous the peripheral nevous 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 impotant cells are concentrated in In the sympathetic nevous aletness. 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, impotant for enhancing regulates heat 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 memoy. 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 neve 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 nevous 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.