Definition

Noun A monoamine neurotransmitter is a type of chemical messenger in the nervous system. It is a monoamine—a molecule containing one amino group connected to an aromatic ring—that transmits signals across a synapse from one neuron (nerve cell) to another target neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell. These neurotransmitters are functionally critical for regulating mood, emotion, arousal, and various cognitive processes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Serotonin is a key monoamine neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood and sleep.
  • The imbalance of certain monoamine neurotransmitters is associated with several neurological disorders.
  • Dopamine, another monoamine neurotransmitter, plays a central role in motivation and reward perception.

Advanced Usage

• "Monoamine neurotransmitter hypothesis": A theory in neuroscience and psychiatry proposing that deficits in certain monoamine neurotransmitters are a primary cause of conditions like depression.
  • The monoamine neurotransmitter hypothesis has guided the development of many antidepressant drugs.

Variants and Related Words

• Monoamine (n): The broader class of organic compounds to which these neurotransmitters belong. A monoamine neurotransmitter is a specific type of monoamine that functions in neural transmission.
  • Norepinephrine functions both as a hormone and a monoamine.
• Neurotransmitter (n): The general term for any chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse. A monoamine neurotransmitter is a specific subclass.
  • GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, not a monoamine one.

Synonyms

• Biogenic amine neurotransmitter: A more technical synonym often used interchangeably in scientific literature, emphasizing its biological origin.
• Monoaminergic transmitter: A less common variant with the same meaning.

Related Phrases

• Monoamine neurotransmitter system: Refers to the collective pathways and neurons in the brain that use monoamine neurotransmitters.
  • The monoamine neurotransmitter system is a primary target for psychostimulant drugs.
• Monoamine neurotransmitter reuptake: The process by which these neurotransmitters are absorbed back into the transmitting neuron, terminating their signal. This process is a key target for many medications.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by blocking the monoamine neurotransmitter reuptake of serotonin.

Noun

1. a monoamine that is functionally important in neural transmission