neurotransmitter

[noor-oh-trans-mit-er, -tranz-, nyoor-]

noun

1. any of several chemical substances, as epinephrine or acetylcholine, that transmit nerve impulses across a synapse to a postsynaptic element, as another nerve, muscle, or gland.

neurotransmitter

/ ˌnjʊərəʊtrænzˈmɪtə /

noun

1. a chemical by which a nerve cell communicates with another nerve cell or with a muscle

neurotransmitter

1. A chemical substance that is produced and secreted by a neuron and then diffuses across a synapse to cause excitation or inhibition of another neuron. Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are examples of neurotransmitters.

neurotransmitter

1. Any one of a number of chemicals that are used to transmit nerve signals across a synapse. They are sprayed from the end of the “upstream” nerve cell and absorbed by receptors in the “downstream” cell.

Drugs like Prozac and alcohol affect the emission and reception of neurotransmitters.

Word History and Origins

Origin of neurotransmitter¹

First recorded in 1960–65; neuro- + transmitter

Example Sentences

Normal human consciousness is tied to inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA.

From Los Angeles Times

More pharmacological discoveries followed, including the first tricyclic antidepressants — drugs that reduce the absorption of neurotransmitters called catecholamines.

From Salon

It interrupts the ways neurotransmitters communicate in the brain for a brief period — usually less than a minute unless inhaled continuously.

From Los Angeles Times

The mesolimbic reward system, sometimes referred to as the reward pathway or the mesolimbic pathway, is responsible for releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that allows us to feel pleasure and satisfaction.

From Salon

“If this molecule could help reset the neurotransmitter signaling pathway for dopamine, this would be a major significant pharmaceutical advantage,” Mash told Salon in a phone interview.

From Salon