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Neurochemistry: Difference between revisions

Neurochemistry: Difference between revisions

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'''Neurochemical is a portmanteau of two words. ''Neuro'' from neurons which are the electrical subunit of the brain and ''chemical'' which refers to relatively prolonged affect neurotransmitters in the brain. It is important to realise that the neuro part is electrical and thus immediate and the chemical part has a longer duration.'''
[[File:Neurochemistry1.png|alt=Neurochemistry|thumb]]
 
'''The word neurochemical is a combination of ''neuron,'' the electrical subunit of the brain and ''chemical'' which refers to specific interneuron messenger molecules.''' The reason the brain uses both chemical and electrical systems is that neurons are used for immediate messaging whereas chemicals are used for messages which are slower acting or require a longer duration of action.  
Electricity can only move at the speed of light and therefore is limited in its action as a messenger as it can only work instantaneously. An example of this is the knee jerk response a closed loop reflex, input results in instantaneous output. This is useful for immediate danger scenarios and became a prime fitness driver of evolution. However, there comes a point where there is an overload of information some more important than others. Hence the chemical side evolved giving slower responses, through processing in higher cortex areas, which created a more delayed "intelligent" response.[[File:Dopamine carrot stick donkey.png|alt=Dopamine_carrot_stick_donkey|thumb|'''Figure 1'''. Dopamine is not the goal. Dopamine release causes the progression to a goal.]]However, as we evolved further, the same problem arose if you were more aware of your surroundings then you could see more lions coming to eat you. But there comes a point where there is an overload of information, so many inputs its difficult to figure out which to act on so awareness evolved, which we are experiencing now as consciousness.
 
The awareness travels from different aspects of its environment until it finds an input which can be dealt with by a specific pre-written pathway in the mind, call this a ''game''. A game in effect is a prewritten neural pathway, which given a specific input results in a less than immediate response ending in dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical which makes the flow of the pathway of neural activity. Dopamine is not the reward, it drives the response. From a conscious perspective think of a dog and a ball. The dog is running around, its brain is in electrical real time mode looking for something that fits as a stimulus for the triggering of the neural pathway. This trigger may be food, a ball, a person once the input has been selected or reaches a threshold by which it cannot stop itself the pathway is triggered with dopamine release as its target.
[[File:Dopamine release curve.png|alt=Dopamine release curve|thumb|'''Figure 2'''. Dopamine release curve]]


Electricity is limited in its action as a messenger as it can only work instantaneously (at the speed of light). Think of the knee jerk response, a closed loop electrical reflex, an input results in instantaneous output. This is useful for immediate danger scenarios and became a prime fitness driver of evolution. However, there comes a point where there is an overload of information from neurons, hence the chemical side evolved enabling slower, more prolonged responses.
== Neurotransmitters ==
== Neurotransmitters ==
[[File:Dopamine in action.png|alt=Dopamine in action|thumb|'''Figure 3'''. Dopamine in action]]
Whilst [[dopamine]] is one of the most important neurotransmitters in regards to human behaviour, it is only one in a symphony others:
 
=== Dopamine ===
Dopamine works as a type of proto-reward chemical. When your dog sees the ball you are about to throw it sets a dopamine dynamic where it releases the neurochemical dopamine which causes a craving for the ball. The dopamine is not the reward as the release of which only occurs in the wanting stage ('''Figure 2 - between the signal and work'''). When the dog actually gets the ball in the ''reward'' stage the dopamine disappears.<ref>'''Observations from the Neuroscience and Psychology Laboratory.''' Kent C. Berridge. An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy Volume 52, 2009 - Issue 4 Pages 378-398. Published online: 12 Aug 2009, accessed on 17th July 2022 via: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1080/00201740903087359</nowiki></ref> and consciousness looks for its next trigger for a neural pathway to flow down ('''Figure 3'''). The main difference between you and your dog is that you can perform longer loops as opposed to shorter loops due to your neocortex having the ability to discern time. This is called the [[Curse of Sisyphus]], dopamine far from being the ''reward'' molecule is actually the ''greed'' molecule.
 
=== Other neurotransmitters ===
Whilst dopamine is one of the most important neurotransmitters it is only one in a symphony others:


*'''GABA''' is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter its effects are similar to that of alcohol or benzodiazepines.
*'''GABA''' is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter its effects are similar to that of alcohol or benzodiazepines.
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* '''[[Serotonin]]''' is a monoamine neurotransmitter that plays a regulatory role in mood, sleep, appetite, body temperature regulation, and other processes.
* '''[[Serotonin]]''' is a monoamine neurotransmitter that plays a regulatory role in mood, sleep, appetite, body temperature regulation, and other processes.
* '''Histamine''' is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is involved in arousal, pain, body temperature regulation, and appetite.
* '''Histamine''' is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is involved in arousal, pain, body temperature regulation, and appetite.
'''Reference'''

Latest revision as of 23:36, 20 November 2022

Neurochemistry

The word neurochemical is a combination of neuron, the electrical subunit of the brain and chemical which refers to specific interneuron messenger molecules. The reason the brain uses both chemical and electrical systems is that neurons are used for immediate messaging whereas chemicals are used for messages which are slower acting or require a longer duration of action.

Electricity is limited in its action as a messenger as it can only work instantaneously (at the speed of light). Think of the knee jerk response, a closed loop electrical reflex, an input results in instantaneous output. This is useful for immediate danger scenarios and became a prime fitness driver of evolution. However, there comes a point where there is an overload of information from neurons, hence the chemical side evolved enabling slower, more prolonged responses.

Neurotransmitters

Whilst dopamine is one of the most important neurotransmitters in regards to human behaviour, it is only one in a symphony others:

  • GABA is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter its effects are similar to that of alcohol or benzodiazepines.
  • Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is involved in arousal, pain perception, executive function, body temperature regulation, and other processes.
  • Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is a monoamine neurotransmitter that plays in fight-or-flight response, increases blood flow to muscles, output of the heart, pupil dilation, and glucose.
  • Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter that plays a regulatory role in mood, sleep, appetite, body temperature regulation, and other processes.
  • Histamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is involved in arousal, pain, body temperature regulation, and appetite.
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