(noun. /NUR-oh-TRANZ-mi-ter/)
by Maya Bluitt
What does it mean?
Neurotransmitters are chemicals used by neurons (nerve cells) to communicate with one another. They are stored and later released by neurons and can affect other neurons, muscle cells, or gland cells. Generally, neurotransmitters fit into one of two categories: inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease the activity of the cell it’s targeting, while excitatory neurotransmitters activate their target cells. Neurotransmitters exist all throughout your body, and their release has a direct impact on how you move, feel, and think.
How do I use it in a sentence?
“During intense exercise, the brain releases neurotransmitters called endorphins which reduce pain and improve mood, leading to what is often referred to as ‘runner’s high’”.
Neurotransmitters are stored in structures called vesicles. When an electrical signal occurs in a presynaptic neuron, vesicles fuse to the edge of the cell and release the neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell, triggering another electrical signal in that cell. Image adapted by author.
Related terms
Neuron
Synapse
Action potential
Fields of study in which this word is commonly used
Neuroscience
Biology
Psychology
Medicine
Physiology
