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Neurotransmitter Function Results if Undersupplied or

Oversupplied
Acetylcholine (ACh) Excitatory at synapses Paralysis, Alzheimer’s disease
involved with movement (undersupply)
and memory
Serotonin Governs sleep, appetite and Depression (undersupply)
temperature Obsessive Compulsive
Enhanced by Prozac Disorder (medications block
High levels or sensitivity to serotonin reuptake inhibitors –
it are associated with serotonin cannot re-enter its
serenity and optimism home neuron)

Endorphin Inhibits pain Oversupply can lead to lack of


feeling pain.
However, binds to opiates
(heroine and morphine) which
causes addiction
Noradrenaline Induces physical and mental Used to restore blood pressure
(Norepinephrine) arousal and elevated mood to normal in emergency
situations when blood pressure
'fight or flight' chemical, as has dropped dangerously low
it is responsible for the
body's reaction to stressful Increased heart rate, increased
situations blood pressure, dilation of
pupils, dilation of air passages
Involved with memory and in the lungs and narrowing of
learning (ADHD) blood vessels in non-essential
organs (oversupply)

Depression (undersupply)
Histamine has been found to have a When brain histamine levels
pacemaker function within soar out of control, other
the brain frightening symptoms occur.
The tendency to hyperactivity,
compulsive behavior and
severe depression increases as
histamine rises abnormally.
Dopamine Involved with learning, Schizophrenia (oversupply)
emotional arousal and and Parkinson’s disease
movement (undersupply)

ADHD drugs fall into a class


of medications known as
stimulants. ADHD stimulants
boost levels of two
neurotransmitters, or chemical
messengers in the brain, known
as dopamine and
norepinephrine. Dopamine is
thought to play a role in
memory formation and the
onset of addictive behaviors,
while norepinephrine has been
linked with arousal and
attentiveness.

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