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Monoamine Signaling Overview

Serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline: synthesis, release, reuptake, breakdown. Where adaptogens act.

A free, animated monoamine signaling overview you can read here or embed on any website, from Scrollchart.

Monoamine Signaling Overview

Monoamine Signaling at the SynapseSerotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline: synthesis, release, binding, reuptake, breakdown. Rhodiola tags the MAO and COMT steps.PRESYNAPTIC TERMINAL1. SynthesisTrp -> 5-HTP -> 5-HT (TPH1/2)Tyr -> L-DOPA -> DA -> NE (TH, DBH)2. Vesicular storageVMAT2 loads vesicles3. ExocytosisCa2+ influx -> vesicle fusion -> release5. BreakdownMAO-A / MAO-B: oxidative deaminationCOMT: methylation of catecholsRhodiola: mild MAO + COMT inhibitionnet effect: more 5-HT, DA, NE availableSYNAPTIC CLEFT (20 nm)4. ReuptakeSERT (5-HT), DAT (DA), NET (NE)SSRIs act here, not adaptogensPOSTSYNAPTIC NEURON5-HT1A / 2Amood, anxietyD1 / D2reward, motivationa / B-adrenergicarousal, focus6. Postsynaptic binding triggers G-protein cascades and downstream signal transductionAdaptogens tune availability by slowing breakdown (MAO, COMT). SSRIs and stimulants act on reuptake (SERT, DAT, NET).

A synapse with all five monoamine processes: synthesis from precursor, vesicular storage, exocytosis, postsynaptic binding, reuptake, and MAO/COMT breakdown. Adaptogens like rhodiola tag the MAO and COMT step.

Good for

  • Mental fatigue and adaptogen mechanism articles
  • Rhodiola and ginseng supplement reviews referencing MAO/COMT modulation
  • Neurotransmitter primers for health and biohacker audiences

Source & accuracy

This monoamine signaling overview is an editorial illustration built to represent the concept accurately. Where it shows figures, they are typical or representative values chosen to make the relationship clear, not a single underlying dataset. The diagram and its explainer are reviewed and maintained centrally, and updated over time as understanding improves.

The shared lifecycle of a monoamine neurotransmitter

Serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are the classical monoamine neurotransmitters. Each follows a similar lifecycle. It is synthesized from an amino acid precursor (tryptophan for serotonin, tyrosine for dopamine and noradrenaline), packaged into vesicles, and released into the synapse on an action potential. After acting on receptors it is cleared, mostly by reuptake transporters back into the releasing neuron, then either repackaged or broken down by enzymes such as monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).

Where modulators act on the cycle

Each step is a potential target. Reuptake transporters are the site for SSRIs and many stimulants, MAO is the target of MAO-inhibitor drugs, and receptor subtypes are targets for many other agents. Adaptogenic and nootropic supplements are generally proposed to act more gently and indirectly on this system, for example by influencing precursor availability, enzyme activity, or receptor sensitivity, rather than blocking a transporter outright.

Drug-supplement interactions on monoamine pathways can be serious, including serotonin syndrome when serotonergic agents are combined. This is general educational information, not medical advice. Anyone taking antidepressants or other psychiatric medication should consult a qualified professional before adding supplements that touch these pathways.

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Reference

What this is
A free, embeddable, animated monoamine signaling overview for any website.
Who uses it
Supplement reviewers, Biohacker blogs, Health blogs.
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License
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Frequently asked questions

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