GABA Neurotransmitter | SSRI | Neurotransmitter | Molecule | Chemical Wall Decor | Housewarming Gift | Wall Sign

Description:

Chemical structure of a neurotransmitter on a brown background.

Story:

Even though Amma works in education, she is a trained scientist. She has worked in wet and psychology labs in Pittsburgh and Boston. Part of this training, of course, was chemistry. She loved chemistry so much that she thought she would major in it in college. Life had other plans. She ended up studying psycho-neuroscience and the history of science. She slept through her introduction to neuroscience, but one of the only topics she didn't sleep through was neurotransmitters.

GABA is one of the lesser know neurotransmitters. It is one of the major inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). As an inhibitor, it prevents chemical messages and decreases the stimulation of nerve cells in the brain. It is involved in reducing stress and improving sleep. An imbalance of it in the central nervous system can contribute to many disorders.

When Amma was learning about it in school, she always thought about a show that her youngest sister watched as a child. She hated the show, but thank goodness it helped her on exams!