Conversely, inhibitory neurotransmitters do just what their name says—they inhibit or stop activity in the next cell down the line, and end the excitement on the postsynaptic terminal of the receiving nerve cell. The major inhibitory neurotransmitter is GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). When GABA is released at the presynaptic synapse it, too, attaches to the corresponding postsynaptic receptors. However, GABA makes it less likely that an action potential will be generated. Without GABA, nerve cells would fire so repetitively that they would become overstimulated, causing significant damage and
...more
