Via Dormivigilia, I came across a fascinating paper about a man who suffered from a severe lack of monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin etc.) as a result of a genetic mutation: Sleep and Rhythm Consequences of a Genetically Induced Loss of Serotonin
Neuroskeptic readers will be familiar with monoamines. They’re psychiatrists’ favourite neurotransmitters, and are hence very popular amongst psych drug manufacturers. In particular, it’s widely believed that serotonin is the brain’s “happy chemical” and that clinical depression is caused by low serotonin while antidepressants work by boosting it.
Critics charge that there is no evidence for any of this. My own opinion is that it’scomplicated, but that while there’s certainly no simple relation between serotonin, antidepressants and mood, they are linked in some way. It’s all rather mysterious, but then, the functions of serotonin in general are; despite 50 years of research, it’s probably the least understood neurotransmitter.
The new ...
