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Sleep Disorders Medicine pp 103–118Cite as

Neurotransmitters, Neurochemistry, and the Clinical Pharmacology of Sleep

Abstract

Neurotransmitter systems form the organizational backbone for this chapter. We briefly summarize the central nervous system (CNS) excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. The excitatory systems mediate CNS arousal, alertness, activity, and responsiveness to environment, and may also heighten autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation. We end our chapter briefly discussing brain chemistry orchestrating sleep–wake regulation including rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM cycling.

Keywords

  • Neurotransmitters
  • Dopamine
  • Catecholamine
  • Acetylcholine
  • Glutamate
  • Orexin
  • Histamine
  • GABA

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

    Max Hirshkowitz

  2. Sleep Medicine and Neurology, Nidravedo, P.A., 2128 Babcock Road, Suite 1B, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Hanul Bhandari

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  1. Max Hirshkowitz
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Correspondence to Max Hirshkowitz .

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  1. School of Graduate Medical Education, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, USA

    Sudhansu Chokroverty

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Hirshkowitz, M., Bhandari, H. (2017). Neurotransmitters, Neurochemistry, and the Clinical Pharmacology of Sleep. In: Chokroverty, S. (eds) Sleep Disorders Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6578-6_7

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