- The human brain
- Neurons
- Neurotransmission
- Dopamine
- Other neurotransmitters
- Drug interference
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In some ways, neurons act like computers. That is, they receive messages, process those messages, and send out the results as new messages to other cells. In the case of neurons, the message consists of chemicals that interact with the outer surface of the cell membrane. This chemical interaction with the cell membrane causes chemical changes within the receiving neuron.
One name for the constant exchange of chemical messages between neurons is neurotransmission. It involves three basic steps :
- Neurons release neurotransmitters
- Neurotransmitters bind to receptors
- Binding passes on the neurotransmitter's message
