ive heard mixed answers on rather the each of them are hormones, neurotransmitters, or neuromodulators, and what each of the hormones are directly & indirectly responsible for. ive heard that dopamine gets released when you take opioids, and thats what makes you feel euphoric. but ive also heard that dopamine is just responsible for motivation. thanks in advance for helping 🙂
In: Chemistry
They are all brain chemicals which can be explained in a very complex manner because the brain is a complex beast that neuroscientists are still trying to explain.
Very simplistically, Dopamine is the chemical released by the brain in anticipation of a positive event (eg I love chocolate and somebody offers me a piece), Dopamine is released as I anticipate the pleasure.
Serotonin has traditionally been linked to improving depression. Theoretically, increased Serotonin levels corresponds to improvements in depression levels, which has led to the development of SSRIs, a major category of antidepressants that target Serotonin levels. The layman perspective is that by increasing Serotonin levels, you improve the symptoms of depression. It is actually not that simple, but neuroscientists have known for years that people with higher Serotonin levels seem to have less depressive symptoms but increasing Serotonin may or may not reduce depressive symptoms.
Endorphins are known as “endogenous opioids”. So, an activity that a person does that they enjoy may lead to the creation of the endogenous (“originating from within an organism”) opioid Endorphin creating a natural “high”. The concept of a “runner’s high” has been predominantly been hypothesised as a release of Endorphins. There is a theoretical risk (not sure how big the risk is) that if you are on a high dose of prescription or non-prescription opioids or opiates that if you have a surge of endorphins, you can inadvertently have an opioid overdose.
Other common chemicals found interacting in the brain that you may or may not have heard of include Cortisol (often associated with anxiety), Oxytocin (the love hormone) or endogenous cannabinoids (Endocannabinoids) which in effect, are the body’s own source of a cannabis-like substance. So, therapeutically, there is logic that certain externally derived cannabinoids from the cannabis plant (most commonly researched are THC and CBD) which bind to the same cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) can help with certain medical conditions.
Unless you are in the neuroscience trade, I would simplistically just refer to them all as “brain chemicals” that interact in various ways rather than wondering if the correct term is hormones, neurotransmitters, neuroreceptors, neuromodulators which just raises the levels of complexity.
Latest Answers