neurochemistry

Neurochemistry is the study of the chemical makeup and activities of nervous tissue. It examines the chemical processes and phenomena related to the nervous system.1

Nervous systems transmit information using electrical signals, but communication between nerve cells, or neurons, often involves chemical transmission. When a nerve impulse reaches the end of a neuron, it releases chemical substances called neurotransmitters into a gap known as the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters then bind to receptors on the neighboring cell, stimulating it to generate its own electrical impulse.23

Neurotransmitters are a diverse group, including amino acids, monoamines, and peptides. Abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity are linked to various neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and Parkinson disease.3