Posted by ShawnThomas on January 22, 2008, at 15:24:26
In reply to Board Name Change Neurotransmitters » Neuroscience, posted by SLS on January 15, 2008, at 7:06:46
As a person who has done much to promote the spread of web-based information related to neurotransmitters and their receptors, I must say that the negative connotations associated with the term "neurotransmitter" really concern me. A vast majority of the psychiatric drugs either on the market or in clinical trials directly affect one of the following:
A. *Neurotransmitter* receptors
B. *Neurotransmitter* transporters
C. *Neurotransmitter* concentrationsTrue, a few drugs only affect voltage-gated ion channels and don't directly affect neurotransmitters' receptors, transporters, or concentrations. Some of these drugs can, however, affect neurotransmitter release! I am sure that no one will hesitate to ask a question about a drug that affects ion channels on a board billed as more advanced. Neurotransmitters, gene activity, second messengers, and brain circuitry are all interrelated. Studying neurotransmitters can require one to consider information from several disciplines: neuroscience, pharmacology, psychiatry, psychology, control theory, biophysics, radiology, and many others. This is not a limited topic of discussion!
I do not believe that the name of the board was chosen with any intent to limit the scope of a more advanced discussion about the brain and drugs that affect it. In my opinion, the name of the board does not imply that simple theories of neurotransmitter "imbalance" are valid. It simply acknowledges the fact that many people are excited to learn about neurotransmitters and related topics. The board's users can help one another to gain a more realistic understanding of the role that neurotransmitters play in affective disorders. We can also welcome any comments or suggestions about neuroscience or neuropharmacology because they will probably involve a system(s) affected by a neurotransmitter in one way or another :)
What really matters is sharing information to give people the ability to make more informed choices. What matters to me is giving people hope. We need to make information about neurotransmitters and the many systems and processes related to them more easily accessible for people all over the world. I really believe that, and I commend Dr. Bob for his support of this very important effort to encourage advanced discussions about neurotransmitters, neuroscience, neuropharmacology, and related topics.
Shawn
poster:ShawnThomas
thread:806657
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20071106/msgs/808358.html