Neurotransmitters are super important for how our brain talks to itself. They help relay signals between brain cells, called neurons, and different parts of the brain.
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Key Neurotransmitters:
- Glutamate: This is the main signal booster in our brain. It helps send messages in about 90% of connections between neurons.
- GABA: Think of this as the brain's brake. It slows things down and keeps the signals from getting too wild.
- Dopamine, Serotonin, and Norepinephrine: These three help control how we feel and are important for our pleasure and reward feelings.
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How They Work:
- Neurotransmitters stick to special sites, called receptors, on other neurons. When they do this, they can either excite the neuron or calm it down.
- This signaling can affect many things in our brain, like our mood (which involves about 30% of brain pathways), memory, and movement control.
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Interesting Facts:
- Did you know there are around 100 billion neurons in our brain? They connect through about 100 trillion synapses! This shows just how complicated the connections and interactions of neurotransmitters really are.