NEUROTRANSMITTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does neurotransmitter mean? 

• NEUROTRANSMITTER (noun)
  The noun NEUROTRANSMITTER has 1 sense:

1. a neurochemical that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse

  Familiarity information: NEUROTRANSMITTER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NEUROTRANSMITTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A neurochemical that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("neurotransmitter" is a kind of...):

neurochemical (any organic substance that occurs in neural activity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "neurotransmitter"):

Adrenalin; adrenaline; epinephrin; epinephrine (a catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (trade name Adrenalin); stimulates autonomic nerve action)

GABA; gamma aminobutyric acid (an amino acid that is found in the central nervous system; acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter)

acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter that is a derivative of choline; released at the ends of nerve fibers in the somatic and parasympathetic nervous systems)

 Context examples 

Neurons transmit information to other neurons or cells by releasing neurotransmitters at synapses.

(Neurons, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Any process in which a presynaptic cell transfers a signal to a postsynaptic cell, by either release of a neurotransmitter or by passage of an electrical current via specialized channels.

(Neuronal Transmission, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release.

(ADRA2C Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

Neuropeptides consist of short chains of amino acids, with some functioning as neurotransmitters and some functioning as hormones.

(Neuropeptide, NCI Dictionary)

In addition, this substance acts as a neurotransmitter.

(Adenosine triphosphate, NCI Thesaurus)

Reuptake not only terminates signaling, but can also conserve neurotransmitter through recycling back into the presynaptic cell.

(Attenuation of GPCR Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

An endocrine cell that produces and releases hormones and regulatory proteins such as neurotransmitters and neuropeptide hormones.

(Neuroendocrine Cell, NCI Thesaurus)

This receptor binds ligands such as hormones, antigens, drugs, or neurotransmitters.

(Neural Peptide Receptor, NCI Thesaurus)

Disturbances affecting the neurotransmitter dopamine are associated with a host of mental and neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.

(Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis, National Institutes of Health)

They increase the effect of a chemical in the brain called GABA, which is a neurotransmitter (a substance that nerves use to send messages to one another).

(Benzodiazepine, NCI Dictionary)