NEUROTRANSMISSION

Neurotransmission is the fundamental process by which neurons communicate with each other and with target cells such as muscles and glands. It involves the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic cell to elicit excitatory or inhibitory responses. This intricate signaling system regulates essential functions including cognition, emotion, motor control, and autonomic regulation.

Neurotransmitters are diverse in structure and function, ranging from amino acids and amines to peptides and gases. Their action is tightly controlled through synthesis, vesicular storage, release, receptor binding, and termination via enzymatic degradation or reuptake. Additional modulators such as neuromodulators, neurohormones, and neurotrophic factors fine-tune this communication, influencing synaptic plasticity and neural repair.

Understanding neurotransmission is crucial for deciphering the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders, and for developing targeted pharmacological therapies that modulate synaptic signaling.