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

Associations between gut microbes and Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers reviewed existing data on the role of the gut microbiome in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis.

24 Jul 2024

Irregular sleep and poor REM sleep linked to higher risk of chronic diseases

Longitudinal data from wearable devices linked to health records show that irregular sleep patterns and inadequate REM sleep increase the risk of chronic diseases like hypertension and depression. This emphasizes the importance of consistent and high-quality sleep for overall health.

22 Jul 2024

Could taking vinegar every day help reduce depression?

In a recent study, daily vinegar ingestion significantly improved depression scores in overweight, healthy adults over four weeks, potentially due to enhanced niacin metabolism.

21 Jul 2024

Saffron: A golden remedy for modern health challenges

Review highlights saffron's potential in preventing and treating various human diseases through its bioactive compounds. Clinical and preclinical studies confirm saffron's benefits in conditions like maculopathy, depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.

21 Jul 2024

Psilocybin reconfigures brain networks, showing potential for lasting therapeutic effects

Researchers found that high-dose psilocybin significantly disrupts brain functional connectivity, particularly in the default mode network, with lasting effects linked to therapeutic benefits.

18 Jul 2024

Novel insights into how exercise functions as an antidepressant

Researchers from University College London propose a novel framework linking reduced inflammation and boosted dopamine transmission through exercise to alleviate depressive symptoms.

18 Jul 2024

Neighborhood disadvantage linked to higher expression of stress-related genes in prostate tumors

Those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods have significantly higher activity of stress-related genes, new research suggests, which could contribute to higher rates of aggressive prostate cancer in African American men.

12 Jul 2024

New option emerges for managing stress urinary incontinence

An investigational medication designated TAS-303 shows efficacy and safety in treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), reports a placebo-controlled clinical trial in the August issue of The Journal of Urology®, an Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

12 Jul 2024

Study suggests shift work increases risk of premature ejaculation in men

A recent study links shift work and shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) to an increased risk of premature ejaculation (PE) in male workers. The findings highlight how sleep disruptions and prolonged shift work impact reproductive health.

7 Jul 2024

Beyond PMS: A poorly understood disorder means periods of despair for some women

For the most part, Cori Lint was happy. She worked days as a software engineer and nights as a part-time cellist, filling her free hours with inline skating and gardening and long talks with friends.

3 Jul 2024

Touch sensitivity deteriorates with age only in regions of the body with hairless skin

Like most primates, humans are remarkably touchy-feely. Starved of touch, we release more of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes the immune system to be down-regulated and the heart rate and blood pressure to go up.

2 Jul 2024

Serotonin 2C receptor in the brain regulates memory in people and animal models, research shows

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cambridge in the U.K. and collaborating institutions have shown that serotonin 2C receptor in the brain regulates memory in people and animal models.

28 Jun 2024

Experts call for better information and treatments for post-orgasmic illness syndrome

A study in the "International Journal of Impotence Research" reveals that sexual medicine experts find current information on post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) inadequate, often referring patients for psychotherapy or prescribing antihistamines with limited symptom improvement.

26 Jun 2024

New MDMA variants could be promising alternatives for safe psychotherapeutic applications

The use of the active ingredient 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as "ecstasy", to support psychotherapy for mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder is being discussed worldwide.

25 Jun 2024

High-fat diet triggers anxiety in male rats through gut-brain axis disruption

Researchers investigate the impact of a high-fat diet on gut microbiome diversity and its effects on anxiety-related symptoms.

20 Jun 2024

Research finds link between fatty foods and anxiety

When stressed out, many of us turn to junk food for solace. But new University of Colorado Boulder research suggests this strategy may backfire.

17 Jun 2024

The unregulated sale of Amanita muscaria mushrooms needs a public health response

The legal status, safety, and availability of Amanita muscaria.

12 Jun 2024

Researchers engineer water-soluble histidine kinase for enhanced antibiotic drug screens

A bacterial enzyme called histidine kinase is a promising target for new classes of antibiotics. However, it has been difficult to develop drugs that target this enzyme, because it is a "hydrophobic" protein that loses its structure once removed from its normal location in the cell membrane.

11 Jun 2024

Study reveals bidirectional link between depression and memory decline in older adults

Depressive symptoms are linked to subsequent memory decline in older people, while poorer memory is also linked to an increase in depressive symptoms later on, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

11 Jun 2024

Study may facilitate the development of new personalized treatments for schizophrenia An International Study Publi...

An international study led by the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, in collaboration with researchers from the Neuropsychopharmacology Group at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and researchers from the CIBER of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), and published in Nature Communications, may facilitate the creation of new personalized treatments for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

30 May 2024

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

Associations between gut microbes and Alzheimer’s disease

Irregular sleep and poor REM sleep linked to higher risk of chronic diseases

Could taking vinegar every day help reduce depression?

Saffron: A golden remedy for modern health challenges

Psilocybin reconfigures brain networks, showing potential for lasting therapeutic effects

Novel insights into how exercise functions as an antidepressant

Neighborhood disadvantage linked to higher expression of stress-related genes in prostate tumors

New option emerges for managing stress urinary incontinence

Study suggests shift work increases risk of premature ejaculation in men

Beyond PMS: A poorly understood disorder means periods of despair for some women

Touch sensitivity deteriorates with age only in regions of the body with hairless skin

Serotonin 2C receptor in the brain regulates memory in people and animal models, research shows

Experts call for better information and treatments for post-orgasmic illness syndrome

New MDMA variants could be promising alternatives for safe psychotherapeutic applications

High-fat diet triggers anxiety in male rats through gut-brain axis disruption

Research finds link between fatty foods and anxiety

The unregulated sale of Amanita muscaria mushrooms needs a public health response

Researchers engineer water-soluble histidine kinase for enhanced antibiotic drug screens

Study reveals bidirectional link between depression and memory decline in older adults

Study may facilitate the development of new personalized treatments for schizophrenia An International Study Publi...

E-Cigarettes and Ethanol: A forensic Perspective on Vaping

Understanding Consumer-Consented Data to Optimize Digital Health Programs

The Future is Wearable: Advancing Human Health Through Portable Spectroscopy

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

E-Cigarettes and Ethanol: A forensic Perspective on Vaping

Understanding Consumer-Consented Data to Optimize Digital Health Programs

The Future is Wearable: Advancing Human Health Through Portable Spectroscopy

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