Serotonin vs. dopamine | Serotonin

Serotonin vs. dopamine

Dopamine is another neurotransmitter of the brain. It is found in the basal ganglia and the limbic system, where it is involved in thought and perception processes and plays an important role in controlling movement.On the one hand, serotonin and dopamine are active as neurotransmitters, in different areas of the brain with very different effects. This can be seen especially in the diseases that occur when there is a deficiency of one of the two substances.

In the case of a serotonin deficiency in the brain, it can, as already mentioned above, lead to depressive symptoms, up to manifest depression. However, if there is a dopamine deficiency, Parkinson’s disease occurs, which is mainly characterized by a lack of coordination, trembling and movement disorders. On the other hand, dopamine and serotonin generally have a stimulating and promoting effect on the structures of the systems in which they are involved.

In some cases they even work in parallel, so to speak. Again, this fact becomes clear when looking at diseases. For example, mild to moderate depression is another symptom of Parkinson’s disease.

Depressions

Symptoms of depression are loss of interest, listlessness, and depression. In addition, there can be other symptoms such as tiredness, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite and concentration difficulties. Depending on the extent of the symptoms, a mild depression can be distinguished from a moderate to severe depression.

The cause has not yet been fully clarified, but it is certain that depression is associated with reduced serotonin and norepinephrine levels, which is why the most common drugs aim to increase the concentration of these two neurotransmitters. Depression can occur as an independent disease, but it can also be the symptom of another disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease.