2-Minute Neuroscience: GABA

In this video I discuss the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human nervous system; its effects generally involve making neurons less likely to fire action potentials or release neurotransmitters. GABA acts at both ionotropic (GABAa) and metabotropic (GABAb) receptors, and its action is terminated by a transporter called the GABA transporter. Several drugs like alcohol and benzodiazepines cause increased GABA activity, which is associated with sedative effects.

TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome to 2 minute neuroscience, where I simplistically explain neuroscience topics in 2 minutes or less. In this installment I will discuss gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA.

Although GABA’s primary functions are as a neurotransmitter, it has the structure of an amino acid and thus is referred to as an amino acid neurotransmitter. It is synthesized from another amino acid neurotransmitter, glutamate, in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase.

The function of GABA changes over the course of neural development, but in the mature brain it acts primarily as an inhibitory neurotransmitter; in other words when GABA interacts with the receptors of a neuron, it generally makes the neuron less likely to fire an action potential or release neurotransmitters.

There are two types of receptors GABA interacts with, GABAa and GABAb receptors. GABAa receptors are ionotropic receptors. When GABA binds to the GABAa receptor, it causes the opening of an associated ion channel that is permeable to the negatively charged ion chloride. When negative chloride ions flow into the neuron, they hyperpolarize the membrane potential of the neuron and make it less likely the neuron will fire an action potential. GABAb receptors are metabotropic (or g-protein coupled) receptors; when activated they frequently cause the opening of potassium channels. These channels allow positively charged potassium ions to flow out of the neuron, again making the neuron hyperpolarized and less likely to fire an action potential.

The actions of GABA are terminated by proteins called GABA transporters, which transport GABA from the synaptic cleft into neurons or glial cells where it is degraded primarily by mitochondrial enzymes.

Because GABA can reduce neural transmission, increased GABA activity can have sedative effects. Accordingly, a number of drugs that have such effects, like alcohol and benzodiazepines, increase activity at the GABA receptor.

REFERENCE:

Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, Lamantia AS, McNamara JO, White LE. Neuroscience. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA. Sinauer Associates; 2008.

[Del-Canada]

Can I have this comment pinned for no reason?

[cesarcdx]

*In two minutes, you explained it much better than a Stanford professor.*

[beyzee]

*You are the father I'd never had, the brother everybody would want. You are the friend that everybody deserves. I don't know a better person. I DON'T know a better person* (inserts Oprah's voice)

[tonetoobtwo]

Thanks for taking the time to produce these. I am refreshing my memory for an assignment, and these concise videos are incredibly helpful and are supporting my reading of many a clinical paper that I would otherwise spend much longer trying to synthesise.

[GoldenGateNum]

In regards to sleeping problems I think that food and herbs which increase GABA activity are a big piece of the puzzle, I have been experiencing insomnia for the past 3 years and have tried a Ashwagandha, Passion Flower and Chlorophyll combination which has been helping me sleep like a baby.

[mariociencia]

Fantastic! Incredible! Amazing! Astounding! Astonishing! Mighty! Marvelous! Better than Marvel's superheroes movies!

[thomsonchama]

The exact information I was looking for, thanks a lot 🙏

[idisbonalee]

Thank you for your simple and perfect explanation.

[lukepetronella]

I'm taking Gaba supplements for extremely severe anxiety. I really did not want to take ssri's because I think they are scary as shit. So far its been a day and a half and I feel SO MUCH BETTER. I am only concerned because I find that I feel depersonalized. Hopefully once the anxiety subsides I can get off of these things and feel normal again.

[margueriteoreilly]

The Biochemistry of the
Cells
Is something missed by so many
Brilliant lesson

[georgeelgin]

I liked that u pointed out Gaba-A is CL releasing where as GABA-b is K+ attracting ! your statement that the functions are age related (brain maturation) seemed egnimatic, and i would have liked to clip that

[beautifulspirit]

I'm taking Golden Saffron GABA which made a huge difference to coming off tranquillisers. Only gripe is that they are so expensive but I think WELL WORTH the cost

[garyha]

It eats (my words, or otherwise disrupts) GABA, the microscopic brain protozoa, cat-poop parasite, road rage parasite, toxoplasma gondii. So that's surely why you're all f'd up (reading these comments), I know because I was too. I'm looking for a way to knock it out behind the blood-brain barrier. In the meantime, with the patch of just restoring GABA I can be back to my normal real self again. The curious thing is that it also restores empathy for others, pretty dramatically for me, I guess because once there's no longer a chemical three-alarm fire in the brain from toxo (lack of GABA), one's true nature can be present there again.
Simply put: This explains trolls and if in our water supply would produce world peace.

But we might lose our edge a little. I'm guessing you're all pretty creative, it's that internal anxiety that makes us strive like mad to create something good.

[aserioussalamander]

i'm taking benzos for panick attacks. This video has been very imformative

[dr.azad.agayev]

Activation of GABAb receptors causes the movement of K+ ions into the cell. Respects.

[nurulnabilah]

this 2-minutes explanation video is so satisfying <3

[muhammedcagrkartal]

Brother you can teach anyone neuroscience
It would be better if you could link these videos to phychological effects to your mind. Like effects of the hormones and receptors ?

[Muuip]

Excellent concise presentation!!
👍👍👍

Thank you!

[tomprovan]

Gaba is synthesised from glutamate. Pathway needs vitamin B6.
When working properly it inhibits the excitatory effect of glutamate.
It can use two entry points one for chlorine and the other potassium.
So, motion across a membrane can occur in more than one way. By concentration against a gradient, by sodium potassium channels, and by voltage gated channels.
How do these affect Gaba? And what would the symptoms be when Gaba does not work meaning besides a lack of B6 would an out of balance set of the minerals involved affect which entry door is used?

[capricia]

Thank you so much for this video. You have saved me.