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Related Concept Videos

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory01:23

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

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Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
 Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
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Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission01:23

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Cholinergic neurotransmission involves the synthesis and the release of acetylcholine (ACh) in order to transmit nerve impulses across the synapse. The process begins with the synthesis of acetyl CoA, a precursor for ACh, from ATP, acetate, and coenzyme A in the mitochondria. Choline, another vital precursor, is transported inside the neuron through choline transporters, including high-affinity choline transporter CHT1, low-affinity choline transporter CTL1, and lower-affinity choline...
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Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

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Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
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Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

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Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
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Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action01:26

Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

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Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 7 T in the Rat Barrel Cortex During Whisker Activation
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Is creatine a CNS neurotransmitter?

Bhagaban Mallik1, C Andrew Frank1

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States.

Elife
|October 16, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Creatine, vital for ATP recycling in muscles and brain, may also act as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, according to new research.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Creatine is primarily recognized for its role in energy metabolism, facilitating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) regeneration in high-energy demand tissues like muscle and brain.
  • Its known functions involve buffering cellular energy levels and supporting cellular processes through the creatine kinase system.

Discussion:

  • Emerging experimental evidence suggests a novel function for creatine beyond energy homeostasis.
  • These findings propose that creatine may operate as a neurotransmitter within the central nervous system (CNS).
  • This potential neurotransmitter role implies creatine could directly influence neuronal signaling and communication.

Key Insights:

  • Creatine's established role in ATP recycling is complemented by new evidence suggesting a neurotransmitter function.
Keywords:
AGATSLC6A8astrocytescreatineinhibitory neurotransmissionmouseneurosciencesynaptic vesicles

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  • The molecule's presence and activity in brain tissue are being re-evaluated for direct roles in neural pathways.
  • This broadens the understanding of creatine's physiological importance in the CNS.

    • Outlook:

    • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms of creatine's neurotransmitter activity.
    • Investigating creatine's receptors and signaling pathways in the brain is crucial.
    • Understanding this novel function could open new therapeutic avenues for neurological disorders.