Excitatory Neurotransmitters
« Back to Glossary IndexExcitatory neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that “excite” the neuron, cause it to “fire off,” and pass messages to the next cell. Also see Inhibitory Synapse, Inhibitory Neurotransmitters, andExcitatory Synapse. Excitatory neurotransmitters:
- Acetylcholine governs muscle contractions and causes glands to secrete hormones. A shortage of acetylcholine affects memory formation in Alzheimer’s.
- Glutamate: Too much of glutamate can kill or damage neurons. It has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, stroke, seizures, and increased sensitivity to pain.
- Dopamine is both an excitatory and an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
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