Acetylcholine Case

Acetylcholine is one of the most common types of neurotransmitters of the brain. It can be found in the Central Nervous system or the Peripheral Nervous system of the brain. Acetylcholine is also the only neurotransmitter used in the motor division of the Somatic nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, Acetylcholine activates muscles and plays a huge role in the regulation of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. Acetylcholine also plays a major role in the autonomic nervous system, it releases parasympathetic neurons as well as sympathetic neurons. Although Acetylcholine induces contraction of the skeletal muscles of the brain, it acts as a receptor to inhibit contraction of cardiac muscle fibers. In the Central nervous system, Acetylcholine works as a neuromodulator, it has a variety of effect on plasticity and arousal. Acetylcholine plays an important role in learning, memory and mood. It also plays an important role in the enhancement of the sensory perceptions when humans wake up and sustaining attention.

Acetylcholine is inhibitory at parasympathetic neurons; it lowers heart rate and inhibits the contraction of cardiac muscle fibers. However, Acetylcholine can also be excitatory at the neuromuscular junctions in the skeletal muscles. Acetylcholine is one of the most vital neurotransmitters of the brain. However, It is very important to have the perfect balance of Acetylcholine, too much or too little of this neurotransmitter can lead to many problems, problems regarding difficulties with functioning, learning, brain processing speed, and memories. The lack of Acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer's disease and the deficiency of Acetylcholine can lead to attention deficient disorder, otherwise known as ADD and ADHD. This neurotransmitter can be mimicked by various different types of Drugs. Drugs such as Nicotine, Bethanechol, Carbachol and muscularine have the ability to mimic the effects of Acetylcholine, they are known as cholinergic drugs.