(Description) Figure 9 The serotonin synapse. Serotonin secreted by a presynaptic neuron into the synaptic gap binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron to affect the activity of the postsynaptic neuron. The postsynaptic neuron’s response depends on the amount of serotonin in the synaptic gap. Serotonin levels in the synaptic gap fall partly because reuptake transporters take back the neurotransmitter into the presynaptic neuron.

Understanding depression and anxiety

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The diagram shows secretion, receptor binding and reuptake of serotonin. The serotonin is contained inside a vesicle in the presynaptic neuron, the vesicle moves to the cell membrane and discharges the serotonin into the synaptic gap. Serotonin then binds to its receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. Finally the serotonin is taken back into the presynaptic neuron by the serotonin reuptake transporter.

4.1 The monoamine hypothesis of mood disorders