Serotonin

Serotonin is one of several chemical messengers in the brain, or neurotransmitters, which help brain cells communicate with one another. Among many other functions, serotonin is involved in regulating mood. Problems with making or using the right amount of serotonin have been linked to many mental disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, autism, and schizophrenia.

What is Serotonin?

Serotonin is an example of a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger that is passed between nerve cells. When a nerve impulse reaches the axon at the end of a nerve, neurotransmitters are released which cross an area called the synapse to be received by a specific receptor on the end of a target nerve. Once received by the target nerve, the neurotransmitter may either excite that nerve to fire its own signal or prevent it from firing the signal.

Serotonin Function

Serotonin Biosynthesis

Drugs Targeting the 5-HT System

Serotonin Pathology

Serotonin in Plants

The Relationship Between Serotonin and 5-HTP

Do Serotonin and Antidepressants Affect the Microbiome?

Serotonin and Aggression

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Can psychedelics improve sexual functioning and satisfaction?

The influence of psychedelics on sexual functioning.

15 Apr 2024

Women predominantly treated for anxiety and depression at psychiatric outpatient clinics

More than 75% of the patients treated at the psychiatric outpatient clinic of Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo state (Brazil), are women with a mean age of 45 and suffering from sadness, anxiety and irritability, according to a study reported in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

13 Apr 2024

Is psilocybin safe for treating depression and anxiety?

A study in JAMA Network Open examined the acute adverse effects of therapeutic doses of psilocybin for treating depression and anxiety, focusing on its safety profile by assessing the occurrence of immediate side effects like headache, nausea, and elevated blood pressure among others.

12 Apr 2024

New natural supplement shows promise in preventing postpartum blues

A new study published in the Lancet discovery science journal eClinicalMedicine has confirmed that a novel natural supplement-;invented, researched, developed and commercialized at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)-;prevents postpartum blues, and reduces symptoms of postpartum depression over the following six months after giving birth.

10 Apr 2024

Gut-friendly psychobiotics could brighten moods and fight depression

Review uncovers that psychobiotics may offer supportive treatment for depression by restoring gut microbiome balance and positively influencing the microbiome-gut-brain axis, which is crucial for mental health and well-being.

8 Apr 2024

New treatments in sight for challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases

Study reviews the advancements in pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric syndromes in neurodegenerative disorders, discussing the complexities of managing symptoms such as depression, disinhibition, apathy, psychosis, and agitation to improve patient care.

3 Apr 2024

Dartmouth-led research identifies unique brain areas for emotion regulation

Ever want to scream during a particularly bad day, but then manage not to? Thank the human brain and how it regulates emotions, which can be critical for navigating everyday life.

3 Apr 2024

Unique bacteria colonize the gut shortly after birth and make serotonin to educate gut immune cells

A recent study revealed that neonatal gut bacteria produce serotonin and down-regulate monoamine oxidase A (MOA) to limit serotonin breakdown, thereby promoting immune tolerance.

20 Mar 2024

Understanding schizophrenia through genetics and neural pathways

Our understanding of schizophrenia has increased greatly in recent years, as studies of large groups of people have identified a multitude of genetic variants that increase a person's risk of the disease.

19 Mar 2024

Rare condition post-orgasmic illness syndrome explored in depth

Comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), a rare condition marked by a range of symptoms following ejaculation, highlighting the need for further research to understand its causes and develop effective treatments.

17 Mar 2024

Gut bacteria-derived serotonin promotes the development of immune cells in newborns

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators discovered that unique bacteria colonize the gut shortly after birth and make the neurotransmitter serotonin to educate gut immune cells.

15 Mar 2024

A new $16,000 postpartum depression drug is here. How will insurers handle it?

A much-awaited treatment for postpartum depression, zuranolone, hit the market in December, promising an accessible and fast-acting medication for a debilitating illness.

12 Mar 2024

When it comes to ketamine, Meta’s posting policy is no party to decipher

People keep talking about ketamine. The drug has become a favorite of celebrities, billionaires, and ordinary patients, many of whom view it as a potential miracle drug for depression and other mental health conditions.

7 Mar 2024

New hope for binge eating and bulimia: GLP-1 drugs could be the key

GLP-1 receptor agonists show promise in reducing binge eating behaviors in disorders like bulimia nervosa, offering a new avenue for treatment with minimal side effects.

4 Mar 2024

Research unveils major discovery in gut-brain axis communication

The mechanisms by which antidepressants and other emotion-focused medications work could be reconsidered due to an important new breakthrough in the understanding of how the gut communicates with the brain.

26 Feb 2024

Study unveils role of dopamine and serotonin in social behavior

In a study in today's (Monday Feb. 26) Nature Human Behavior, scientists delve into the world of chemical neuromodulators in the human brain, specifically dopamine and serotonin, to reveal their role in social behavior.

26 Feb 2024

The correlation between adopting unhealthy dietary habits and migraine severity

A recent study aimed to study the correlation between migraine severity and adopting unhealthy dietary habits. It also sought to identify specific foods that could trigger particular subtypes of migraine.

22 Feb 2024

Study provides evidence that antidepressant use in pregnancy affects child's brain development

A new study explored synapse maturation in the PFC of mice when exposed to 5-HT, shedding light on the link between the chemical and future behavioral changes.

19 Feb 2024

Exercise is an effective treatment for depression, with walking, jogging, yoga, and strength training more effective than other exercises

Researchers determined the potentially most effective exercise regimen and dosage in managing major depressive disorder in comparison to antidepressants, psychotherapy, and control interventions.

16 Feb 2024

Antidepressant use during pregnancy linked to child brain development risks

A new study published in Nature Communications provides direct evidence that antidepressant use during pregnancy can impact a child's brain development and contribute to the risk of mental health disorders later in life.

16 Feb 2024