Chemistry and Your Brain

marsresident (60)in #biohacking • 9 years ago

Chemistry effects and can effect your brain in various ways, naturally as well as through consumption, etc. Recently there has been a Public interest in Brain health, but it often times does not get in to more detail than to eat certain foods, or to take supplements such as Fish Oil (Omega-3) or Vitamin D and other Vitamins. But there are many substances that can be taken in order to promote Brain health, as well as Chemical functions in your Brain, which you can specifically work to improve if you are aware of them.

Your Brain is full of Neurons (Brain Cells) which are connected by Dendrites (which are like Arms or Branches of the Neurons), and the Dendrites of various Neurons connect as Synapses (the point of connection between multiple Neuron's Dendrites). The entire process is fueled Electrochemically. Electricity is a function of Chemistry (Lithium Batteries, Copper Wire, Potato/Lemon Light Bulbs, etc), and your Brain Function comes from Electrochemical signaling. These chemicals are called Neuropeptides. Neuropeptides effect your emotions, etc. and all of these things together (Neurons, Dendrites, Synapses & Neuropeptides) are what form memories, ideas, and everything your Brain does.

Research Papers explaining Neuropeptides

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21922398

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK116087/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4736749/

Research Papers about Neuropeptides as Drug Targets

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23161624

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3394504/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19743896

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23205840

Neuropeptides have actually also been found outside of the brain, in what is called the Gut-Brain Axis. So there are literally, Biologically, Gut Feelings. Here are some Papers about the Gut-Brain Axis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4359909/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367209/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791857/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4370913/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997044

Research Papers about Neuropeptide GPCRs

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22908006

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4926255/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21728976

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23932938

Research Papers about β-peptides & γ-peptides

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17191902

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16235225

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11828476

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19118806

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8608006

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20061647

Research Papers about Peptidomimetics (Molecules that mimic peptides)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9265722

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20969906

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25588572

Research Papers about Neuropeptides and SRIF

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6149273

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9031749

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC391957/

Research Papers about Neuropeptides and Angiotensin

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22649365

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17443027

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22234465

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7989494

Research Papers about Neuropeptides and Endothelin

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15121213

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821480/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7692698

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17592116

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9932722

And important part of the Brain that went largely ignored until recently are the Glia, or Glial cells. Glia is the Greek word for Glue, and it was thought that these Cells simply acted as something like a Glue in the Brain holding everything together. Since it was discovered that these cells actually play a role in Brain function, they have been called "The Other Brain", and Glial Cells actually play a role in Neuropeptide function.

Here are some Research Papers explaining Glial Cells, GDNF and Neuropeptides

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10998101

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19934016

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2120511/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15667652

Research Papers about Oligodendrocytes and Astrocytes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18536641

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2799635/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2799634/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11844734

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23981039

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2982258/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11596126

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15846805

There are many receptors in the Brain, the most well known of which are the 5-HT receptors, or Serotonin receptors. Activating receptors in your brain can allow it to function better in various ways. An example of how to do this is with 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), which is very closely related to Serotonin (5-HT), and hits the 5-HT receptors.

Research Papers about 5-HT receptors

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK28234/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10462127

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21808193

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16465176

Research Papers about 5-HTP

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9727088

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3298325

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1836762

And Serotonin receptors are not the only receptors in your brain. There are Cholerginic receptors which are effected by Nicotine, and GABA receptors which are effected by Benzos, etc. As well as various forms of Esterase, which eat extra Molecules before they get to your receptors and can be blocked to allow more to get to the receptors. Following are various Molecules that either hit a receptor, or block an Esterase.

Melatonin

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8229640

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23691095

Piracetam

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16007238

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1794001

Choline

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782876/

Piracetam and Choline Combined

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7301036

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3110830

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6472050