neuroactive

Neuroactive is an adjective used to describe substances, molecules, or processes that influence the function of the nervous system. In pharmacology and neuroscience, a neuroactive compound is any agent that can alter neuronal activity, signaling, or plasticity, either centrally in the brain or peripherally in the nervous system. Neuroactive effects may be excitatory or inhibitory and can arise from interactions with receptors, ion channels, transporters, enzymes, or second-messenger pathways. Some neuroactive agents act directly on neurons; others modulate glial cells or neural circuits.

Common examples include natural neurotransmitters such as glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin, as well as neurohormones and neuropeptides. Psychoactive drugs and dietary compounds like caffeine or ethanol that alter mood, cognition, or motor function are also considered neuroactive. In clinical contexts, neuroactive drugs include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, analgesics, and medications that influence cholinergic or monoaminergic systems.

Classification schemes often distinguish neuroactive from neurotoxic or neuroprotective effects, but all share a focus on how signaling within the nervous system is modulated. Mechanisms of action include receptor agonism or antagonism, modulation of ion channels, inhibition of enzymes, and changes in neurotransmitter synthesis or release. Research into neuroactivity spans pharmacology, electrophysiology, neurochemistry, and neuroimaging, and informs both therapeutic development and fundamental understanding of brain function.