Major Neurotransmitters and Their Functions
Excitatory Neurotransmitters (Stimulate Brain Activity)
1. Glutamate – The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter; essential for learning,
memory, and synaptic plasticity.
Deficiency:
• Cognitive Impairments – Poor memory and learning difficulties.
• Psychosis and Schizophrenia – Linked to reduced glutamate signaling.
Excess:
• Neurotoxicity (Excitotoxicity) – Excess glutamate can kill neurons.
• Alzheimer’s Disease – Accumulation of glutamate contributes to brain cell death.
• Seizures & Epilepsy – Uncontrolled neural excitability leads to convulsions.
2. Acetylcholine (ACh) – Involved in muscle movement, learning, and memory; also plays
a role in attention and arousal.
Deficiency:
• Alzheimer’s Disease – Memory loss, confusion, and cognitive decline.
• Myasthenia Gravis – Muscle weakness due to impaired nerve signal transmission.
Excess:
• Muscle Cramps & Spasms – Overstimulation of muscles.
• Cholinergic Crisis (Toxicity) – Overactivation leading to drooling, sweating, and
paralysis (often due to organophosphate poisoning).
3. Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) – Regulates alertness, arousal, and the fight-or-flight
response; plays a role in mood and stress.
Deficiency:
a. Depression – Fatigue, low energy, lack of motivation.
b. ADHD – Inattention, difficulty focusing, impulsivity.
Excess:
c. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) – Increased heart rate and constricted
blood vessels.
d. Anxiety & Panic Disorders – Hyperarousal, excessive worrying, and
restlessness.
4. Epinephrine (Adrenaline) – Involved in the fight-or-flight response; increases heart rate
and blood pressure, energy boost, alertness
Deficiency:
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Extreme tiredness with no clear cause.
• Depression – Low energy, sluggishness.
Excess:
• Panic Attacks & Anxiety Disorders – Racing heart, sweating, feeling of impending doom.
• Hypertension & Cardiovascular Diseases – High blood pressure and risk of stroke
Inhibitory Neurotransmitters (Calm Brain Activity)
5. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) – The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter;
reduces neural excitability and helps with relaxation and sleep.
Deficiency:
• Anxiety Disorders – Increased nervousness, restlessness, and panic attacks.
• Epilepsy – Seizures due to uncontrolled neuronal firing.
• Insomnia – Overactive brain function preventing relaxation and sleep.
Excess:
• Excessive Sedation – Overuse of sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines) can cause drowsiness,
confusion, and coma.
5. Glycine – Found mainly in the spinal cord; helps regulate motor and sensory signals and
acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Neuromodulators (Regulate Other Neurotransmitters)
7. Dopamine – Involved in reward, motivation, pleasure, and motor control.
Deficiency:
1. Parkinson’s Disease – Leads to tremors, stiffness, and difficulty in movement.
2. Depression – lack motivation and pleasure (anhedonia)
3. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) – Impulsivity, inattention, and
hyperactivity.
Excess:
Schizophrenia – Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
Addiction – Overstimulation of the reward system leads to substance dependence
(e.g., drugs, gambling).
8. Serotonin – Regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and emotional stability; imbalances are
linked to depression and anxiety.
Deficiency:
Depression – Persistent sadness, low energy, and loss of interest.
Anxiety Disorders – Excessive worry, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive
behaviors.
Insomnia – Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Excess:
• Serotonin Syndrome – Agitation, hallucinations, increased heart rate, and life-
threatening symptoms (often caused by excessive antidepressants or drug
interactions).
9. Histamine – Involved in wakefulness, immune response, and inflammation; plays a role
in allergic reactions.
Deficiency:
• Hypersomnia (Excessive Sleepiness) – Difficulty staying awake.
Excess:
• Allergic Reactions – Itching, swelling, asthma, and inflammation.
Neuropeptides (Small Protein-Like Molecules That Act as Neurotransmitters)
10. Endorphins – Natural painkillers that produce a feeling of euphoria; released during
exercise and stress relief.
Deficiency:
Chronic Pain Disorders – Increased sensitivity to pain.
Depression & Anxiety – Lack of natural mood regulation and well-being.
Excess:
Reduced Pain Sensitivity – May lead to injury due to lack of pain awareness.
11. Substance P – Transmits pain signals to the brain and plays a role in inflammation.
12. Oxytocin – Known as the "love hormone"; involved in social bonding, trust, childbirth,
and breastfeeding.
Deficiency:
• Social Anxiety & Difficulty Forming Bonds – Problems with emotional connection.
• Postpartum Depression – Linked to low oxytocin after childbirth.
Excess:
• Overattachment or Trust Issues – Excessive emotional dependence.
13. Vasopressin – Regulates water balance and blood pressure; also plays a role in social
bonding.
Other Neurotransmitters of Interest
14. Adenosine – Inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in sleep regulation; caffeine blocks
adenosine receptors to keep you awake.
15. Nitric Oxide (NO) – A gas that acts as a neurotransmitter; involved in blood vessel
dilation and memory formation.
16. Anandamide (Endocannabinoid) – Plays a role in mood, memory, and appetite;
interacts with cannabinoid receptors (similar to THC in cannabis).
Summary Table: Neurotransmitter Imbalances & Disorders
Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorders Excess Disorders
Dopamine Parkinson’s, Depression, ADHD Schizophrenia, Addiction
Serotonin Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia Serotonin Syndrome
GABA Anxiety, Epilepsy, Insomnia Excessive Sedation
Neurotoxicity, Alzheimer’s,
Glutamate Cognitive Impairments, Schizophrenia
Seizures
Acetylcholine Alzheimer’s, Myasthenia Gravis Muscle Spasms, Cholinergic Crisis
Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorders Excess Disorders
Norepinephrine Depression, ADHD Hypertension, Anxiety
Epinephrine Chronic Fatigue, Depression Panic Attacks, Hypertension
Endorphins Chronic Pain, Depression Reduced Pain Sensitivity
Histamine Hypersomnia Allergic Reactions
Social Anxiety, Postpartum
Oxytocin Overattachment
Depression
