Acetylcholine
Published: 07.05.2012
You can find more information on the topic of neurotransmitters in our article by Ulrich Pontes. ▸ Neurotransmitters – Messenger Molecules in the Brain
Acetylcholine is one of the most important neurotransmitters in the nervous system. In the central nervous system, it is involved in attention, learning, and memory; in the peripheral nervous system, it transmits excitation from nerves to muscles at the neuromuscular end plates and controls processes of the autonomic nervous system, i.e., the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts. Areas in which acetylcholine acts as a messenger substance are called cholinergic. It was the first Neurotransmitter to be discovered, identified in 1921 by Otto Loewi in the heart of a frog.
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the nervous system that primarily controls unconscious vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. The Autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic nervous system, which is active in performance and stress situations, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is active during rest and recovery phases. In some cases, the enteric nervous system, which is responsible for gastrointestinal functions, is also considered part of the autonomic nervous system.
cholinergic
Cholinergic neurons produce acetylcholine (an important neurotransmitter in the brain), and cholinergic synapses use it to transmit signals.
Attention
Attention serves as a tool for consciously perceiving internal and external stimuli. We achieve this by focusing our mental resources on a limited number of stimuli or pieces of information. While some stimuli automatically attract our attention, we can select others in a controlled manner. The brain also unconsciously processes stimuli that are not currently the focus of our attention.
cholinergic
Cholinergic neurons produce acetylcholine (an important neurotransmitter in the brain), and cholinergic synapses use it to transmit signals.
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is one of the most important neurotransmitters in the nervous system. In the central nervous system, it is involved in attention, learning, and memory; in the peripheral nervous system, it transmits excitation from nerves to muscles at the neuromuscular end plates and controls processes of the autonomic nervous system, i.e., the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts. Areas in which acetylcholine acts as a messenger substance are called cholinergic. It was the first neurotransmitter to be discovered, identified in 1921 by Otto Loewi in the heart of a frog.
Neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger, an intermediary substance. It is released by the sender neuron at the sites of cell-cell communication and has an excitatory or inhibitory effect on the receiver neuron.
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the nervous system that primarily controls unconscious vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic nervous system, which is active in performance and stress situations, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is active during rest and recovery phases. In some cases, the enteric nervous system, which is responsible for gastrointestinal functions, is also considered part of the autonomic nervous system.
attention
Attention
Attention serves as a tool for consciously perceiving internal and external stimuli. We achieve this by focusing our mental resources on a limited number of stimuli or pieces of information. While some stimuli automatically attract our attention, we can select others in a controlled manner. The brain also unconsciously processes stimuli that are not currently the focus of our attention.
