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- Glossary
CGRP
The abbreviation stands for calcitonin gene-related peptide. It refers to a messenger substance in the nervous system that consists of 37 amino acids. CGRP is produced in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. The peptide dilates the blood vessels. Migraine patients often have elevated CGRP levels. The effect of CGRP is of interest for other diseases, such as circulatory disorders or coronary heart disease.
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- Glossary
Dopamine
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that belongs to the catecholamine group. It plays a role in motor function, motivation, emotion, and cognitive processes. Disruptions in the function of this transmitter play a role in many brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson's disease, and substance dependence.
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- Glossary
excitatory
Exciting synapses are described as excitatory when they depolarize the subsequent cell membrane and can thus lead to the formation of an action potential. An excitatory effect is usually produced by an exciting transmitter (messenger substance), such as glutamate. The opposite is an inhibitory synapse.
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- Glossary
Vitreous body
The vitreous body consists of a gel-like substance inside the eye that supports the shape of the eye.
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- Glossary
Glutamate
Glutamate is an amino acid and the most important excitatory neurotransmitter, which acts as a messenger substance in the transmission of information between neurons at their synapses.
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- Glossary
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland in the brain when it is dark. Melatonin levels are highest at night and then decrease throughout the day. This makes it an important messenger substance for the "internal clock" and it appears to play a particularly important role in regulating sleep.
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- Glossary
Mesolimbic pathway
A system of neurons that use dopamine as a neurotransmitter and play a crucial role in emotion, reward, and substance abuse. The cell bodies are located in the subtegmental area and extend to the amygdala, the hippocampus, and – most importantly – the nucleus accumbens, where they have their terminal buttons.
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- Glossary
Myelin
Myelin is a fatty substance produced by glial cells. It envelops the axons (long, fiber-like extensions) of nerve cells and insulates them, preventing messages from passing uncontrollably to neighboring nerve cells. This also greatly accelerates conduction velocity.
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- Glossary
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.
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- Glossary
Parasympathetic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system is part of the vegetative or autonomic nervous system. The latter term refers to the fact that this part of the nervous system is not subject to voluntary control. It controls the activities of most of the internal organs as well as the heartbeat. In contrast to its counterpart, the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system is most active when the body is at rest. Among other things, it controls digestion and urination. Acetylcholine serves as the messenger substance for signal transmission within the parasympathetic nervous system.
