Much is already understood about the many benefits exercise provides to your physical and mental well-being, from burning energy/calories to the production of feel-good endorphins. Research continues for improved understanding of the importance of...
Ambien contains the compound zolpidem. Like all medications, zolpidem is gradually eliminated from the body. As Drugs.com indicates, the half-life of zolpidem is approximately 2 1/2 hours (it varies from patient to patient). This means that every...
Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a complex psychological condition that can encompass changing moods and behaviors that are often difficult to treat holistically or traditionally with single pharmaceuticals. This disorder includes mood...
According to The Medical News, dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter that is found in the different areas of brain and is essential for several functions of the central nervous system. Dopamine plays a major role in the feelings of addiction...
Amino acids are chemicals that make up proteins. Some of the amino acids, including glutamate, also have an important role in the brain. Problems with the cellular transport of glutamate can lead to some diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral...
As one of the oldest and most popular American soft drinks, the image of Coca-Cola has left its mark on popular culture for over a hundred a years. Despite going through minor recipe changes and the introduction of several Coca-Cola varieties...
Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, also known as ADHD, is a common psychological ailment that typically manifests during childhood. Children with this condition have problems with hyperactive behavior and with staying focused, which can lead...
Depressants describe a class of pharmaceutical compounds that work by decreasing electrical activity in the central nervous system (CNS). Some depressants work by altering the chemistry of the brain to increase the amounts of chemicals that...
Lunesta, also known as eszopiclone, is a medication that is used as a sleep aid for patients who suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders. The foods which you eat can affect how oral medications are absorbed by your digestive tract, and...
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is one of the two main sleep stages. During REM sleep, which lasts for 70 to 90 minutes each night, the person actively dreams, according to the article "Sleeping Well: Understanding Sleep Needs, Cycles and Stages."...
Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects motor neurons. Motor neurons are responsible for muscle control and movement. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, the neurons in the brain die or do not function properly. These...
L-arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, affects many vital functions in the body. In the brain, L-arginine is oxidized to nitric oxide gas, and this gas diffuses rapidly from cell to cell as one of the possible chemical messengers involved in...
The cerebral cortex, which is responsible for language, senses, thinking and reasoning as well as other functions and abilities, begins to develop soon after conception. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that "most...
Anxiety is a physical and mental condition that is associated with low extra-cellular levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, increased fear professing in the amygdala, the brain's main fear processing center, and an increased...
Caffeine is perhaps the most commonly consumed, unregulated psychoactive compound in the world. Caffeine is consumed daily by an estimated 90 percent of Americans, often within coffee, tea and soda pop, but also in chocolate, dietary supplements...
Arachidonic acid is a type of omega-6 fatty acid that is involved in inflammation. Like other omega-6 fatty acids, arachidonic acid is essential to your health. Omega-6 fatty acids help maintain your brain function and regulate growth. Eating a...
Stress and phobias are both conditions related to anxiety. Occasional feelings of anxiety are a normal part of the human condition. However, when anxiety symptoms are chronic and out of proportion to the actual dangers at hand, treatment may be...
Fetal brain development is a complex process, and the nutrients you take in during pregnancy directly affect your baby's brain. While overall malnutrition can limit fetal development in general, there are some nutrients that are particularly...
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a class of antidepressant drugs that historically succeeded the older antidepressants tricyclics and MAO inhibitors. Unlike the older antidepressants, SSRIs target the mood-enhancing...
GABA, or gamma aminobutyric acid, is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps to facilitate normal operation of the central nervous system, the control center for a host of normal everyday functions. Doctors commonly prescribe GABA...
Caffeine is a chemical that the body does not need in any capacity for normal functioning, but it causes powerful psychoactive effects once consumed. Caffeine interferes with brain chemistry and hormonal secretions, which can contribute to causing...
According the the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-IV-TR, anxiety is broadly defined as "the unpleasant experience of fear in the absence of that of which we might be afraid." Though there are a variety of anxiety...
The gastrointestinal tract is the only system in your body that will continue to demonstrate neuronal activity and reflexes after being isolated from the central nervous system. This is possible because the gut is hardwired with its own network of...
A migraine is a specific kind of painful headache that involves the vascular system of the brain. Migraines occur when the arteries spasm and then constrict, sending out waves of pain. Various neurotransmitters in the brain are responsible, in...
Diabetic patients are at a higher risk for heart attacks than people with normal blood sugars. Several factors play a role in this heightened diabetic risk profile, including insulin resistance, enhanced clotting tendencies, high blood pressure,...
Caffeine is likely the most used but unregulated psychoactive substance in the world. Caffeine affects the brain, cardiovascular system and a variety of glands and organs. It helps users stay alert and fight fatigue, but it also has addictive...
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polysaturated fatty acids that contribute to brain function and help to prevent heart disease. There is also some evidence to support its impact on other physical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood...
Alcohol causes depression and laziness through its effects on the brain. The brain is made up of cells called neurons. The neurons in the brain control a number of things, including cognition, sensation, muscle movement, balance and emotions....
Epilepsy and bipolar disorder are two different diseases that are categorized by abnormal brain activity. Abnormal brain activity can be the result of unusual electrical activity. Nerve cells in the brain (also known as neurons) are electrically...
