what neurotransmitters are released and when?

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I know what the 5 most common ones (acetylcholine, dopamine, endorphins, serotonin and norepinephrine) are for but I’ve noticed they also have similar functions. Like endorphins and dopamine both have to do with wellbeing and pain, and acetylcholine and dopamine both have to do with memory and learning. But in what situations does one activate and the other doesn’t? When is serotonin released and not dopamine or endorphins? I know norepinephrine is supposed to contribute to awakeness, awareness and apetite but how? Etc.

In: Biology

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Specific neurotransmitters are linked to specific neurons in the brain that perform specific functions. Dopamine doesn’t inherently make us happy (in fact dopamine also is used a lot for movement), it’s just used by the parts of the brain responsible for reward.
Without going into specific regions, neurotransmitters are used when they’re corresponding neurons fire. If something is affecting appetite, then it’s bring released in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that maintains homeostasis. This is what allows neurotransmitters to fill multiple roles and what allows multiple ones to do the same thing. It all depends on what specific neurons firing use.

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