Inhibitory neurotransmission

Inhibitory neurotransmission refers to the collective physiological process by which inhibitory neurotransmitters such as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), glycine, and in some cases serotonin, act at specific postsynaptic receptors to hyperpolarize neurons and reduce the likelihood of action potential generation. The process maintains balance in neuronal circuits, prevents overexcitation, and is crucial for proper brain function; dysregulation can contribute to various neurological and psychiatric disorders[1][2][10]. Key details: - "Inhibitory neurotransmission" is not a specific gene, protein, or receptor, but a broad process involving different classes of molecules and receptors (e.g., GABA-A receptor, GABA-B receptor, glycine receptor)[1][2][10]. - Common inhibitory neurotransmitters include GABA and glycine, which bind to their respective receptors to induce hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic neuron, making it less likely to fire an action potential[1][2][9][10]. - Therapeutic targets relevant to this process include the specific receptors (e.g., GABA-A receptor); these have known drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines, barbiturates)[3]. - Individual inhibitors (e.g., "GABA-A receptor") are valid molecular targets and can be described with structured information, but the overall process ("inhibitory neurotransmission") is not a druggable entity.

Other names

Neural inhibitionSynaptic inhibitionInhibitory synaptic transmission