How Neurotransmitters Affect The Nervous System

The stimuli will cause a specific reaction within the body depending on the signals – these allow the body to perform its functions smoothly and aid in quick reflexes. Different nerves and cells implement their own distinct actions, each which serve their own purpose in the total body operation.

Experts believe bipolar disorder is caused by an underlying problem with specific brain circuits and the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters (WebMD). There are five brain chemicals noradrenaline (norepinephrine), serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphin. Noradrenaline and serotonin are the most common chemicals linked to psychiatric mood disorders such as depression and bipolar (WebMD). Dopamine is linked to the pleasure system in the brain (WebMD). When a disruption happens to the dopamine system connects to psychosis and schizophrenia (WebMD). If there is too much dopamine in one place, it can cause psychosis. Dopamine motivates us (Deans, 2011). Dopamine is linked to everything, metabolism, evolution, and the brain (Dean, 2011). Serotonin is connected to many different body functions including sleep, wakefulness, eating and impulsivity (WebMD). Researchers believe that abnormal brain functioning of brain circuits that involve serotonin as a chemical messenger contributes to mood disorders (WebMD). Oxytocin is a hormone commonly associated with childbirth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin plays a critical role in social and emotional behavior. Oxytocin increases the susceptibility to feeling fearful and anxious during stressful events (NWU, 2013).

Everything we do is a product of neural communication, whether that be reacting to senses or feeling emotions, it is all due to us having neural communication through millions of neurons passing small electrical signals throughout the body through such pathways as the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system and passing information to and from the brain. These ‘’neurons’’ are made up of Dendrites which are connected to a cell body, or also known as the soma, these are tree-like feathery filament ‘’message receivers’’ that collect these messages from other neurons it is connected to, neurons are connected through a dendrite to axon terminal connections and pass these ‘’messages’’ through the body as action potentials.

1. Neurons is a basic building block of the nervous system. The sensory nerves carry the message from body tissues to the brain and spinal chord to be processed. The motor neurons are then used to send instructions to the body tissue from the brain and spinal cord. Dendrites, which are connected to the body cell (soma) receive information and pass it through the axon. Myelin sheath covers the axon and helps speed the process. When triggered by a signals from our senses or other neurons, the neuron fires an impulse called the action potential. The resting potential is the neuron’s visual charge of positive

Most people usually think of the brain or heart being the most important part of our body. While they are indeed important, they would be entirely useless if certain substances called neurotransmitters didn’t exist. Neurotransmitters are substances in our body that carry signals from one nerve cell to another. Without these neurotransmitters in our body, we wouldn’t receive crucial signals such as telling our heart to beat. Six of the most common neurotransmitters in our body are dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that travels across the synapse between a neuron and another neuron, muscle fiber, or gland. Hormone is a chemical messenger of the endocrine system that is released by a gland or organ and travels through the blood. Neurotransmitter and hormone both compare because they both are chemical messenger, both chemicals are released from vessels into the surrounding fluid by similar mechanisms. They both work by binding to receptors on target cells. Neurotransmitter and hormones are very important systems, which regulate the various activities of the body, and are dependent on the release of special chemicals. Furthermore, the tissues in the Central Nervous System produce some hormones, as well as the neurotransmitters. What sets neurotransmitter and hormone apart? Neurotransmitters belong to the nervous system, however hormones belong to the endocrine system. Hormones and neurotransmitters are engendered differently; hormones are engendered by endocrine glands while neurotransmitters are engendered by neurons. The transmission of neurotransmitters is across the synaptic cleft, whereas that of hormones is by blood. Hormones are able to regulate their target organs, whereas neurotransmitters are able to stimulate the postsynaptic membranes. The action of neurotransmitters is extremely fast, which could be up to a few milliseconds. In contrast, effect of hormones could be lost for a long period, which could be in the range of few seconds to a few days.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals made by neurons and used by them to transmit signals to the other neurons or non-neuronal cells (e.g., skeletal muscle; myocardium, pineal glandular cells) that they innervate. The neurotransmitters produce their effects by being released into synapses when their neuron of origin fires (i.e., becomes depolarized) and then attaching to receptors in the membrane of the post-synaptic cells. This causes changes in the fluxes of particular ions across that membrane, making cells more likely to become depolarized, if the neurotransmitter happens to be excitatory, or less likely if it is inhibitory.

Once in the synapses, the impulses triggers the release of chemical messages called neurotransmitters; which then bind to receptors on the receiving cell as the transmission of the impulse repeated again. The message or impulse continues traveling from one neuron to the next throughout the body until it reaches its destination as it relays a signal. All of this activity happens in less than a split second and without conscious thought. At the end of this process, the brain has the task of interpreting the message and making the decision as to what to do with this new information. (Carlson, 2011.Pg.45-52)

The CNS contains the brain and spinal cord. Its main functions include: processing, integrating, and coordinating sensory information and motor instructions. The sensory data conducts information that is being processed from internal and external conditions the body is experiencing. Motor commands regulate and control peripheral organs (skeletal muscles). The brain functions under memory, emotions, learning, and intelligence. The PNS consist of the neural tissue found outside of the CNS. It functions in sending data to the CNS which motor commands are than carried out to the peripheral tissues/systems. Multiple nerve fibers send sensory data and motor commands in the PNS. The nerves that assist with transmitting data include the cranial nerves and spinal nerve. However, the PNS can be divided into afferent (to bring in) and efferent (to bring out) divisions of transferring data. The afferent division functions in bringing in sensory data to the CNS. Sensory structures are receptors that detect internal/external environmental change and adjusting accordingly. The efferent division functions in carrying out motor commands from the CNS to glands, muscles, and adipose tissue. The efferent division contains somatic

Nerves have the main function of transmitting signals between the brain and the body through electrical impulses and neurotransmitters. Through the parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system,

As the message arrives at the end of the nerves, the message is transmitted to the muscles. Before the message is transmitted to the muscles it has to pass the space between the end of the nerve and the muscle, and that space is called neuromuscular junction. The message is transmitted from the brain to the end of the nerve and from the nerve to the neuromuscular junction, and when the message arrives the chemical called neurotransmitters are released.

Regrettably a vast number of individuals struggle with addiction. These individuals attempt to achieve an altered state of consciousness facilitated by both legal and illegal substances. The neurotransmitter system in the human body interacts with said drugs which act as agonist or antagonist and either facilitate or impede neurotransmitter activity. Modern medicine refers to patients treated with opioids (legal drugs) as opioid dependent and to people addicted to psychoactive illegal drugs as addicts. No matter which qualification is applied, in both instances of addiction or dependence the body gets accustomed to the drug and when discontinued the body experiences a number of negative and painful effects. Also, while talking about dependence

Many psychiatric and psychoactive drugs that are available on the market, pharmaceutically or illegally, closely resemble neurotransmitters and are actually able to mimic it to the extent that it fools the receptors. Basically, these drugs hijack the neurotransmitters. Once these drugs are ingested, it enters into the brain, gets into the synapse and binds itself to the receptor. This then causes the inappropriate release of neurotransmitters and alter the breakdown and recycling of neurotransmitters or can be used to destroy particular neurotransmitters completely (Sapolsky, 2005, p. 14).

In our brain daily functions, the neurons transmit messages from one and other in the form of neurotransmitters, a chemical reaction

Reaction time is the time between the presentation of a stimulus and the initiation of the muscular response to that stimulus ( the free dictionary [26/07/14].The purpose of this test was to identify what happens to reaction times as different independent variables are applied. The nervous system helps all parts of the body to communicate with each other, it is responsible for making sure all of the body’s parts coordinate properly. The nervous system is the centre of all the body’s activity (better health channel [26/07/14]). The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system and all the other nerves in the body part of the peripheral nervous system. Inside nerves lie neurons, neurons are found in the brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nerves (PubMed Health [26/07/14]). They are also known as nerve cells. These neurons have the same structure as plant and animal cells (differencebetween.net [27/07/14]). Neurons are made up of a cell body, dendrites, a nucleus, an axon and a myelin sheath (the nervous system [27/07/14]). The myelin sheath surrounds the nerve fibre of axon and protects the body from the electrical charge that nerves have (GCSE Bite size [27/07/14]). There are two types of neurons: sensory neurons and motor neurons. Sensory neurons send signals to the brain and spinal