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.

Serotonin Function

Serotonin Biosynthesis

Drugs Targeting the 5-HT System

Serotonin Pathology

Serotonin in Plants

The Relationship Between Serotonin and 5-HTP

Do Serotonin and Antidepressants Affect the Microbiome?

Serotonin and Aggression

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Gut-targeted antidepressants: A novel approach to battling depression and anxiety

Most of us have experienced the effects of moods and emotions on our gastrointestinal tract, from "butterflies" in the stomach caused by nervousness to a loss of appetite when we're feeling blue.

11 Dec 2024

Dopamine and serotonin balance reward learning in opposing ways

If you've heard of two of the brain's chemical neurotransmitters, it's probably dopamine and serotonin. Never mind that glutamate and GABA do most of the work -; it's the thrill of dopamine as the "pleasure chemical" and serotonin as tender mood-stabilizer that attract all the headlines.

25 Nov 2024

New study links circadian gene variants to winter depression

Variants of the PER3 gene disrupt adrenal adaptation to winter light, leading to serotonin disruption and depression-like behaviors in humanized mice models.

13 Nov 2024

Research highlights immune system's role in depression

A new study highlights the link between inflammation and depression, challenging traditional neurotransmitter-focused theories.

11 Nov 2024

Low vitamin D associated with increased depression risk in pregnancy and after birth

Research indicates that low vitamin D levels may contribute to anxiety and depression in pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of adequate supplementation.

29 Oct 2024

Alcohol's effects on embryo development detected in late-gestation placenta

A new study led by Pr. Serge McGraw, researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and professor at Université de Montréal, shows that the effects of alcohol exposure on an embryo prior to implantation in the uterus can be detected in the late-gestation placenta.

9 Oct 2024

Collaborative study investigates underlying cause of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is most known for its movement-related symptoms: tremors and rigidity, slowness and falls, caused by the loss of the brain's dopamine-producing neurons.

4 Oct 2024

Study identifies brain circuit linking psychedelics to reduced anxiety

Psychedelics have been used in indigenous cultures for centuries, with empirical evidence of their mood and perception altering effects.

3 Oct 2024

Fruit fly brain connectome offers critical clues for understanding brain function and behavior

A scientific team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) unveiled the first complete map of the neural connections of the common fruit fly brain. The map provides a wiring diagram, known as a connectome, and is the largest and most complete connectome of an adult animal ever created.

3 Oct 2024

Neuroactive drugs show promising anti-glioblastoma effects in preclinical trials

Study explores the potential to repurpose neuroactive drugs, originally approved for neurological disorders, for the treatment of glioblastoma. Vortioxetine, an antidepressant, showed promising anti-glioblastoma activity, significantly reducing tumor size in preclinical trials.

24 Sep 2024

Psilocybin shows promise for treating depression and improving well-being

A direct comparison between the experimental psychedelic drug psilocybin and a standard SSRI antidepressant shows similar improvement of depressive symptoms, but that psilocybin offers additional longer-term benefits.

22 Sep 2024

Brain scans reveal link between SSRI use and cognitive function

Researchers have found that SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressants have the potential to improve certain cognitive functions, such as verbal memory. They measured brain function in patients before and after taking the SSRI escitalopram and correlated this to a drop in the level of one of the serotonin receptors in the brain and to cognitive improvements during treatment.

22 Sep 2024

How plant-based, Mediterranean, and Western diets affect gut microbiota and disease

Researchers examine how different dietary components affect the gut microbiome and development of non-communicable diseases.

20 Sep 2024

Researchers uncover receptor that dampens sensory input

Signals in our brain are not always processed in the same way: Certain receptors modulate these mechanisms, influencing our mood, perception, and behavior in various ways. One of these is the 5-HT2A receptor, which has a recently discovered unique characteristic.

18 Sep 2024

Impact of oxidative stress, gut, and diet on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder pathophysiology

Oxidative stress and gut microbiome interactions are key in ADHD pathogenesis, with diet playing a crucial role in managing symptoms and improving outcomes.

18 Sep 2024

Study links COVID-19 to higher benzodiazepine use in postpartum women

New research from the University of Georgia suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may have had an unexpected side effect for postpartum women: more benzodiazepine prescriptions.

13 Sep 2024

Cannabidiol shows promise in treating cognitive disorders

Research reviews the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in treating cognitive impairments, highlighting positive effects in some trials while emphasizing the need for more comprehensive studies.

12 Sep 2024

A fluorescent probe for studying serotonin in depression models

Serotonin in depression is highly relevant in diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. To better study this area, a Chinese team has now developed a fluorescent probe for imaging processes that is highly sensitive and selective toward serotonin.

6 Sep 2024

New RNA therapy offers hope for mental health

Scientists at Cognigenics have made a significant advance in the field of neuroscience and mental health treatment. Their groundbreaking research, published in Genomic Psychiatry, demonstrates that a new RNA-based therapy called COG-201 can enhance memory and reduce anxiety in animal models.

6 Sep 2024