The researchers genetically engineered the three types of neuron — which release the neurotransmitters GABA, glutamate and serotonin — in the median raphe nucleus of mice to express a light ...

When GABA receptors are stimulated, they reduce neuron firing, leading to sluggish movement. 3 This wobbly effect isn’t limited to humans; Rossi found that rodents exhibit similar behavior. He tested ...

This causes the receptor to attract more of the GABA neurotransmitter, which results in less neuron firing. The outward result is a sedative effect that helps induce and maintain sleep.

The GABA A receptor is a channel that allows chloride ions to flow into the neuron, decreasing the voltage within the cell relative to the extracellular space. Such hyper­polarization decreases the ...