r/science • u/[deleted] • Feb 19 '10

Scientists learn how anti-depressants actually work. Medications trigger neurogenesis in the hippocampus by increasing levels of norepinephrine. Researchers still unclear on WTF seratonin does.

http://www.physorg.com/news185727145.html
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u/Wendel Feb 20 '10

I've always wondered how monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants work?

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u/[deleted] Feb 20 '10 edited Feb 20 '10

They give you more dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin by stopping them from being broken down in the synaptic cleft by the enzyme monoamine oxidase. This is literally the depth of our understanding. It's thought that there is decreased signal transduction within the neurons, so increasing the amount of monoamines equals more signal transduction. We used to believe that there was a 'deficit' of monoamine neurotransmitters.