Acetylcholine Muscle action Learning/Memory Decreased levels associated with Alzheimer disease
Dopamine Movement Learning, attention Emotion Excess associated with schizophrenia Decreased levels associated with Parkinson Disease
Serotonin Mood, hunger, sleep, arousal Decreased levels associated with depression
Norepinephrine Helps control alertness/arousal Decreased levels associated with depression
GABA “gamma-aminobutyric acid” Major inhibitory neurotransmitter Decreased levels associated with seizures, tremors, and insomnia
Glutamate Major excitatory neurotransmitter Involved in memory Excess associated with overstimulation, seizures, and migraine headaches
Endorphins Released in response to pain and exercise Basis for ‘runner’s high’ Prescription narcotics are potent agonists
Divisions of the Human Nervous System