What does serotonin mean?
Serotonin is a chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, that helps cells communicate within the nervous system. It also acts as a vasoactive substance in tissues and blood vessels, and much of the body's serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract. In the brain, serotonin is involved in regulating mood, sleep, appetite, memory, and other processes, although its functions are more varied and less direct than simple descriptions such as “the happiness chemical” suggest. Serotonin is found in several forms, including the chemical name 5-hydroxytryptamine and the abbreviation 5-HT. The word appears commonly in medical and biological discussions concerning depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, digestion, and the effects of medications that increase or reduce its availability. Understanding serotonin is useful because it illustrates how one signaling molecule can influence many interconnected bodily systems.
nounA naturally occurring indoleamine neurotransmitter and vasoactive substance found chiefly in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. It helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, and other physiological functions.
- The neurotransmitter that transmits signals across nerve cells and helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and other functions.
- The naturally occurring vasoactive substance found in blood platelets and tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract.
"Exercise and adequate sleep can help maintain healthy serotonin levels."
"The medication increases serotonin availability by inhibiting its reuptake."
"Researchers measured serotonin release in the participants' brains using a specialized imaging technique."
Rare in general usage; in scientific contexts, individual serotonin molecules or distinct serotonin-related substances may be referred to as serotonin.
"The researchers compared the effects of two forms of serotonin on vascular tissue."
Much of the body's serotonin is produced in the digestive tract, but serotonin made in the gut and in the brain is regulated separately.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does serotonin come from?
The term serotonin was coined in the 1930s for a substance identified in blood serum that caused blood vessels to constrict. The name combines an element referring to serum with a suffix associated with tone or tension, reflecting the substance's physiological effects at the time. The compound was later recognized as the same chemical messenger used by nerve cells, and serotonin became established in neuroscience, pharmacology, and biology.
Related word forms
How serotonin is actually used
Primarily scientific and medical. In general discussion, it often refers specifically to the neurotransmitter, while laboratory and clinical contexts may distinguish between central and peripheral serotonin.
Easily confused with serotonin
Serotonin and dopamine are both neurotransmitters, but they act through distinct systems and are associated with different functions.
Norepinephrine is primarily a stress-related neurotransmitter and hormone, whereas serotonin is involved in a broader range of mood, sleep, appetite, and digestive functions.