What is the most common neurotransmitter?

1 Answer
Feb 6, 2016

Glutamate is the most common neurotransmitter.

Explanation:

Glutamate is an excitatory (it stimulates) neurotransmitter. It is involved in cognitive functions - such as learning and memory and plays an improtant role in the regulation of growth cones (an extension of a neuron projection that seeks a synapse) and synaptogenesis (the formation of synapses) during brain development.
www.ics.uci.edu

http://webvision.med.utah.edu/imageswv/GLU1.jpeg

Glutamate is also used by the brain to produce GABA - the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in our central nervous system (responsible for regulating neuronal exitability and muscle tone).

Interestingly, Glutamate can actually be toxic to the body in high quantities.

Hope this helps and let me know if I can do anything else:)