Neurotransmitters and Mental Disorders

• Mental disorders can be related to problems in the transmission of messages from neuron to neuron.
• Information is communicated throughout the brain in the form of electrical impulses, and neurotransmitters play a key role in moving information through the brain.
• Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neurotransmitters can lead to specific mental disorders.
• Depression, for example, has been linked to low activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine.
• In addition to focusing on neurons and neurotransmitters, researchers have learned that mental disorders are sometimes related to abnormal chemical activity in the body’s endocrine system.
• During times of stress, the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, secrete the hormone cortisol to help the body deal with the stress.

Explore the link between neurotransmitters, neuron communication, and mental disorders. Learn how abnormal chemical activity in the endocrine system can also contribute to the development of certain mental disorders.