neurotransmitter

Brain chemicals that communicate information throughout the brain and body. They relay signals between nerve cells, called “neurons.”

The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell the heart to beat, the lungs to breathe, and the stomach to digest.

neurotransmitter by lolly james October 24, 2017

Neurotransmitterism

A secular neuroscientist religion that reduces all mental states, emotions, and even social phenomena to the action of specific neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin. It treats low serotonin as the cause of depression (ignoring context, biography, power), dopamine as the basis of reward (ignoring meaning), and oxytocin as “the love molecule” (ignoring complex social bonds). Neurotransmitterism sells quick fixes (SSRIs for sadness, dopamine detox for distraction) and offers a tidy, materialist explanation for messy human life. Critics call it “chemical reductionism” and note that correlation is not causation.

Neurotransmitterism Example: “The neurotransmitterist explained her grief as ‘low serotonin’ and prescribed pills, ignoring the death of her child. He reduced a unique, meaningful loss to a chemical imbalance.”

Neurotransmitterism by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal June 5, 2026

Neurotransmithrandir 

This word includes all different types of neurotransmitters. A medschool student can not grasp their complexity and misteriousness.

Oh wao, so many neurotransmithrandirs! Very misterious and complex, just like Mithrandir himself...

Neurotransmithrandir by Hannes94OH July 7, 2017

Neurotransmisserification

The act of reducing any mental state, emotion, or behavior to the action of specific neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate). It treats complex psychological phenomena as mere chemical balances: depression is low serotonin, anxiety is high norepinephrine, love is oxytocin. Neurotransmisserification is common in pharmaceutical marketing and reductionist science writing. Critics note that neurotransmitters have multiple functions, their effects depend on receptor subtypes and brain region, and the same chemical can produce opposite effects in different contexts. It is a form of chemical reductionism that ignores the whole person.

Neurotransmisserification Example: “The ad for antidepressants relied on neurotransmisserification: ‘Depression is a chemical imbalance.’ The fine print admitted that this is a hypothesis, not a fact. But the damage was done.”

Neurotransmisserification by Abzugal June 5, 2026

Neurotransmisseromania

An extreme version of neurotransmisserification, where neurotransmitters are treated not just as causal factors but as the sole and sufficient explanation for all human phenomena. Neurotransmisseromania reduces friendship to oxytocin, ambition to dopamine, calm to GABA, and excitement to glutamate. It is common in online neuromania communities and in overly simplified “brain health” influencers. Critics argue it is a form of magical thinking dressed in lab coats: a single molecule cannot bear the weight of meaning, history, and relationship. It also ignores the role of neural circuits, brain regions, and the body.

Neurotransmisseromania Example: “The neurotransmisseromaniac told a grieving widow that her sorrow was ‘just low serotonin and norepinephrine.’ He offered pills, not comfort. He reduced a meaningful loss to a chemical deficit.”

Neurotransmisseromania by Abzugal June 5, 2026