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.

Do Serotonin and Antidepressants Affect the Microbiome?

Serotonin in Plants

Drugs Targeting the 5-HT System

Serotonin Function

Serotonin and Aggression

The Relationship Between Serotonin and 5-HTP

Serotonin Pathology

Serotonin Biosynthesis

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Low-dose THC mitigates harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV treatment

Long-term, low doses of THC mitigate many harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to new research from Texas Biomedical Research Institute.

6 Nov 2025

How gut microbes shape sleep: New review reveals microbiome clues to insomnia and apnea

A new Brain Medicine review maps how gut microbes influence sleep disorders, from insomnia and sleep apnea to circadian disruption, via bile acids, neurotransmitters, and immune pathways. The findings highlight gut-driven targets for improving sleep quality through diet, probiotics, and microbiome modulation.

5 Nov 2025

New review illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation

A comprehensive review published today in Brain Medicine illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation, establishing the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a critical pathway in understanding and potentially treating sleep disorders.

4 Nov 2025

Stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through specific RNA molecules

What if the brain's response to stress could be read not in fleeting neurotransmitter bursts, but in the quieting of genes deep inside chromatin? Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have now shown that stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through an unexpected class of RNA molecules that operate not by encoding proteins, but by reshaping the genome's architecture.

4 Nov 2025

Sertraline contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms

One of the most common antidepressants, sertraline, contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms, including low mood, within two weeks, finds a new analysis of a major clinical trial led by UCL researchers.

30 Oct 2025

Systematic analysis reveals psilocybin's impact on obsessive-compulsive behaviors

A systematic review published today in Psychedelics by Mr. James Gattuso and colleagues at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health synthesizes clinical and preclinical evidence on psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviors, revealing consistent therapeutic potential across human patients and validated animal models.

29 Oct 2025

Emerging neuromodulation techniques for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder

In a peer-reviewed article published today in Brain Medicine, a European research team presents a focused review of emerging neuromodulation techniques for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

28 Oct 2025

Scientists uncover excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Fujita Health University and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science have uncovered a previously overlooked form of brain abnormality linked to anxiety: excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus, a state they term "hyper-maturity."

27 Oct 2025

How psychedelics profoundly reshape the perception of time and consciousness

A perspective article published in Psychedelics by Prof. Xiaohui Wang and colleagues examines how psychedelic substances profoundly reshape the perception of time, offering unprecedented insights into consciousness and potential therapeutic applications.

23 Oct 2025

Repeated ketamine infusions offer no extra benefit for people hospitalized with depression

Findings from a randomized and blinded clinical trial investigating repeated ketamine infusions for treating depression have revealed no extra benefit for ketamine when added onto standard care for people admitted to hospital for depression.

22 Oct 2025

Gut bacteria found to make serotonin and boost intestinal motility

Researchers have identified Limosilactobacillus mucosae and Ligilactobacillus ruminis as human gut bacteria capable of producing serotonin by decarboxylating 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Their activity enhances intestinal motility and enteric nerve density, linking microbial serotonin synthesis to gut function and potential IBS mechanisms.

21 Oct 2025

Study clarifies the complex interaction between gut bacteria and common gastrointestinal disorder

Research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, clarifies the complex interaction between gut bacteria and IBS.

21 Oct 2025

Study reveals differing prescribing patterns for menopause therapy

Not all healthcare professionals receive the same type of formal education. That may help explain the results of a new study which suggests that provider type and specialty greatly affect whether a woman receives prescription medication treatment for menopause-related care and, if so, what kind of treatment she receives.

21 Oct 2025

Heavy drinking fuels Alzheimer’s disease by igniting brain inflammation and protein damage

Chronic alcohol use accelerates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression by intensifying oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and amyloid-tau pathology through shared molecular pathways. The review highlights emerging therapies, targeting TLR4, GSK-3β, and metabolic dysfunction, that may mitigate alcohol-induced neurodegeneration.

20 Oct 2025

New insights into MDMA therapy for PTSD and beyond

A comprehensive peer-reviewed invited review published today in Psychedelics by Dr. Kenji Hashimoto and colleagues (Dr. Mingming Zhao and Dr. Jianjun Yang) synthesizes the evolving landscape of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, examining robust clinical evidence in treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder while identifying promising applications in autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, and existential distress

14 Oct 2025

Brain serotonin levels linked to sexual side effects from antidepressants

Researchers have discovered that the ability to have an erection or to orgasm is related to the levels of serotonin in the brain, but this relation only applies to depressed patients taking SSRI antidepressants.

13 Oct 2025

Drinking soft drinks may fuel depression by altering gut bacteria

A study links soft drink consumption to increased depression risk, highlighting gut microbiome changes, particularly in women. Learn more about the findings.

10 Oct 2025

Penn Medicine study maps brain circuits impacted by psilocybin

Researchers at Penn Medicine have identified specific brain circuits that are impacted by psilocybin-the active compound found in some psychedelic mushrooms-which could lead to new paths forward for pain and mental health management options.

2 Oct 2025

Negative behavioral effects of psilocybin persist in mouse mothers and offspring

Magic mushrooms may not be the answer to postpartum depression, new research from the University of California, Davis suggests.

30 Sep 2025

Cannabidiol shows promise for obesity and metabolic syndrome

Cannabidiol (CBD) shows promise in regulating appetite, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammation in preclinical models of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, human evidence is still limited, highlighting the need for rigorous trials before clinical use.

29 Sep 2025

Serotonin

Overview

Do Serotonin and Antidepressants Affect the Microbiome?

Serotonin in Plants

Drugs Targeting the 5-HT System

Feature Articles

Serotonin Function

Serotonin and Aggression

The Relationship Between Serotonin and 5-HTP

Serotonin Pathology

Serotonin Biosynthesis

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Low-dose THC mitigates harmful side effects and inflammation caused by HIV treatment

How gut microbes shape sleep: New review reveals microbiome clues to insomnia and apnea

New review illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation

Stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through specific RNA molecules

Sertraline contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms

Systematic analysis reveals psilocybin's impact on obsessive-compulsive behaviors

Emerging neuromodulation techniques for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder

Scientists uncover excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus

How psychedelics profoundly reshape the perception of time and consciousness

Repeated ketamine infusions offer no extra benefit for people hospitalized with depression

Gut bacteria found to make serotonin and boost intestinal motility

Study clarifies the complex interaction between gut bacteria and common gastrointestinal disorder

Study reveals differing prescribing patterns for menopause therapy

Heavy drinking fuels Alzheimer’s disease by igniting brain inflammation and protein damage

New insights into MDMA therapy for PTSD and beyond

Brain serotonin levels linked to sexual side effects from antidepressants

Drinking soft drinks may fuel depression by altering gut bacteria

Penn Medicine study maps brain circuits impacted by psilocybin

Negative behavioral effects of psilocybin persist in mouse mothers and offspring

Cannabidiol shows promise for obesity and metabolic syndrome

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

Serotonin

Overview

Feature Articles

Serotonin Function

Serotonin and Aggression

The Relationship Between Serotonin and 5-HTP

Serotonin Pathology

Serotonin Biosynthesis

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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