Editing Psychopharmacology (section)

===Neurotransmitters===
Psychoactive drugs exert their sensory and behavioral effects almost entirely by acting on [[neurotransmitter]]s and by modifying one or more aspects of synaptic transmission. Neurotransmitters can be viewed as chemicals through which [[neuron]]s primarily communicate; psychoactive drugs affect the mind by altering this communication. Drugs may act by 1) serving as a [[precursor (chemistry)|precursor]] to a neurotransmitter; 2) inhibiting neurotransmitter synthesis; 3) preventing storage of neurotransmitters in the pre[[synaptic vesicle]]; 4) stimulating or inhibiting neurotransmitter release; 5) stimulating or blocking post-synaptic receptors; 6) stimulating [[autoreceptor]]s, inhibiting neurotransmitter release; 7) blocking autoreceptors, increasing neurotransmitter release; 8) inhibiting neurotransmission breakdown; or 9) blocking neurotransmitter [[reuptake]] by the presynaptic neuron.<ref name=Psychopharm />