Hey all, I’m a neuroscience grad student bored as hell while working on research, AMA

  • zsnell02OP
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    1 year ago

    That’s a hard question because of the interconnected-ness and complexity of the systems but I’ll give it a shot.

    Neurotransmitters: ~30

    Neuromodulators: ~10-20 (some transmitters also act as modulators)

    Hormones: 10

    Growth Factors: ~5

    Endocannabinoids: 2

    Gaseous Neurotransmitters: 2

    Peptides: ~30

    Ion concentrations: ~5

    So all that together I want to say there’s about 100 or so distinct “analog” signaling systems, but a lot of these molecules can function in multiple capacities, like neurotransmitters can act as neuromodulators and etc.

    • Candelestine@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Thank you, that is exactly the kind of ballpark answer I was looking for. That’s honestly less than I was expecting, I can actually wrap my head around 100ish chemical signaling systems.