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

Study finds higher cannabis dose is associated with larger reductions in OCD compulsions

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, report that the severity of their symptoms was reduced by about half within four hours of smoking cannabis, according to a Washington State University study.

20 Oct 2020

Serum metabolite profile can help identify individuals at risk of alcohol-related disease

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland is the first in the world to show that the serum metabolite profile can be used to identify individuals likely at risk of developing an alcohol-related disease in the future.

19 Oct 2020

A better understanding of the gut-brain axis may lead to new treatments for neurological disorders

Anyone who has experienced "butterflies in the stomach" before giving a big presentation will be unsurprised to learn there is a physical connection between their gut and their brain.

16 Oct 2020

STAT3 deficiency reduces emotional reactivity, shows study

Numerous scientific studies indicate that inflammatory processes play a key role in the development of psychiatric disorders.

14 Oct 2020

Two well-known neurochemicals found to be involved in sub-second perception, cognition

In first-of-their-kind observations in the human brain, an international team of researchers has revealed two well-known neurochemicals -; dopamine and serotonin -; are at work at sub-second speeds to shape how people perceive the world and take action based on their perception.

12 Oct 2020

Dopamine and serotonin play role in perception and decision-making

Scientists at Wake Forest School of Medicine have recorded real time changes in dopamine and serotonin levels in the human brain that are involved with perception and decision-making.

12 Oct 2020

An overview of withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic drugs

The current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics reports an article that analyzes the data that are available on what may happen when psychotropic drugs are discontinued.

24 Sep 2020

Maternal gut microbiota can promote healthy fetal brain development

During pregnancy in mice, the billions of bacteria and other microbes that live in a mother's intestines regulate key metabolites, small molecules that are important for healthy fetal brain development, UCLA biologists report Sept. 23 in the journal Nature.

24 Sep 2020

Type 1 diabetes is associated with increased risk of falls

New research presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), held online this year (21-25 September), shows that having type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with a 33% increase in the risk of falls compared with the general population, while having type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with a 19% increased risk of falls.

21 Sep 2020

Scientists investigate how psychedelic drugs interact with brain cells at the molecular level

Psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline cause severe and often long-lasting hallucinations, but they show great potential in treating serious psychiatric conditions, such as major depressive disorder.

18 Sep 2020

Measuring brainwaves produced during REM sleep can predict patients response to treatment from depression

Scientists have discovered that measuring brainwaves produced during REM sleep can predict whether a patient will respond to treatment from depression.

14 Sep 2020

Molecular imaging reveals ASD-related brain differences

People with autism spectrum disorder have lower levels of a protein that regulates the amount of serotonin in the brain, a paper from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry reports.

9 Sep 2020

Research highlights the effects of confinement due to COVID-19 among pregnant women

Researchers of Medicine and Physical Therapy at the CEU Cardenal Herrera University of Valencia and of the Italian University of Catania, have published the results of the first study on the effects of confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant Spanish women.

8 Sep 2020

Study offers a possible explanation for prevalence of autism spectrum disorder

Recent estimates indicate a prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States of 1 in 59 children with a well-established 4:1 male predominance.

2 Sep 2020

Inflammatory protein produced by mast cells contributes to fibrosis in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide, is renowned for its ability to disseminate throughout the peritoneal cavity.

26 Aug 2020

Zebrafish study shows individual differences in brain activity

Personality varies widely. There are bold and reserved individuals, who behave very differently when faced with the same environmental stimulus.

10 Aug 2020

Botox injections can reduce depression, shows study

Botox, a medication derived from a bacterial toxin, is commonly injected to ease wrinkles, migraines, muscle spasms, excessive sweating and incontinence.

30 Jul 2020

Fluoxetine does not improve brain recovery after acute stroke

The antidepressant fluoxetine has been suggested as a means to improve brain recovery after acute stroke.

22 Jul 2020

Two new studies highlight possible treatment options for patients with neuroendocrine tumors

Two new studies led by Renuka Iyer, MD, Section Chief for Gastrointestinal Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, highlight possible new treatment options for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) -; a rare and hard-to-treat cancer.

14 Jul 2020

UNM study sheds new light on transition of fear to anxiety

A deadly coronavirus pandemic, economic instability and civil unrest menace the mental well-being of millions.

9 Jul 2020

Serotonin

Overview

Serotonin Function

Serotonin Biosynthesis

Drugs Targeting the 5-HT System

Feature Articles

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

Study finds higher cannabis dose is associated with larger reductions in OCD compulsions

Serum metabolite profile can help identify individuals at risk of alcohol-related disease

A better understanding of the gut-brain axis may lead to new treatments for neurological disorders

STAT3 deficiency reduces emotional reactivity, shows study

Two well-known neurochemicals found to be involved in sub-second perception, cognition

Dopamine and serotonin play role in perception and decision-making

An overview of withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic drugs

Maternal gut microbiota can promote healthy fetal brain development

Type 1 diabetes is associated with increased risk of falls

Scientists investigate how psychedelic drugs interact with brain cells at the molecular level

Measuring brainwaves produced during REM sleep can predict patients response to treatment from depression

Molecular imaging reveals ASD-related brain differences

Research highlights the effects of confinement due to COVID-19 among pregnant women

Study offers a possible explanation for prevalence of autism spectrum disorder

Inflammatory protein produced by mast cells contributes to fibrosis in gastric cancer

Zebrafish study shows individual differences in brain activity

Botox injections can reduce depression, shows study

Fluoxetine does not improve brain recovery after acute stroke

Two new studies highlight possible treatment options for patients with neuroendocrine tumors

UNM study sheds new light on transition of fear to anxiety

Fecal transplants, the secret to eternal youth

Eliminating the cold chain with COVID-19 molecular transport media

Why do we need sleep?

Serotonin

Overview

Feature Articles

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

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