Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in humans and animals that is synthesised from the amino acid tryptophan. It is often considered that the function of serotonin is to induce a sense of well being and contentment. However, within the brain of both humans and animals, neurotransmitters perform dual roles, and this is testament to the efficiency of the brain in that it can do more with less, in effect reducing its requirement to synthesise additional types of neurotransmitters. For example, serotonin released from the dorsal raphe nucleus has been shown to enhance fear and anxiety that ultimately activates anxious and fearful behaviour through multiple regulated pathways. This may explain the anxious feelings encountered by some when they take drugs designed to increase serotonin release. The take home message from this is that the complexity of the brain must always be considered when dealing with neurotransmitters as often there are multiple and conflicting pathways for every neurotransmitter.
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