Inhibition and Excitation

Neurotransmitters then carry the signal across the synaptic gap. They bind to receptor sites on the post-synaptic cell that then become activated. Once the receptors have been activated, they either produce excitatory or inhibitory effects on the post-synaptic cell.

Some neurotransmitters are excitatory and some are inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g. noradrenaline and adrenaline) make the post-synaptic cell more likely to fire, whereas inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g. GABA and serotonin) make them less likely to fire. For example, if an excitatory neurotransmitter like noradrenaline binds to the post-synaptic receptors it…