The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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A neurotransmitter is any chemical substance (the first recognized was ACETYLCHOLINE) that NEURONS (nerve cells) secrete to communicate with their target cells (glands, muscles, and other neurons). Neurotransmitters diffuse from their sites of release—from the presynaptic nerve terminal—across the synaptic cleft, to bind to receptors on the external surface of the postsynaptic cell. Activation of these receptors allows for the transmission of commands (excitation, inhibition, and other more complex forms of regulation) from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic cell.
A neurotransmitter is released from a nerve ending, interacts with specific RECEPTORS, and is then either transported back into the presynaptic neuron or destroyed by metabolic enzymes in the synaptic cleft.
Chemically, neurotransmitters are amino acids, amines, or peptides. Peptide transmitters commonly coexist and may be cosecreted with amino acid or amine transmitters.
Dopamine; Endorphins; Neurotransmission; Norepinephrine; Serotonin)
BARONDES, S. H. (1993). Molecules and mental illness. New York: Scientific American Library.
BLOOM, F. E. (1990). Neurohumoral transmission in the central nervous system. In A. G. Gilman et al. (Eds.), Goodman and Gilman's the pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 8th ed. New York: Pergamon.
COOPER, J. R., BLOOM, F. E., & ROTH, R. H. (1991). The biochemical basis of neuropharmacology, 6th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
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WATSON, R.R. (ED.). (1992). Drugs of abuse and neuro-biology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.