Brain's chemical brake hides a second power, and it could reshape how mental disorders are treated

An important chemical messenger that typically inhibits brain activity might sometimes do the opposite, according to new Yale School of Medicine (YSM) research. One way that brain cells communicate is through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Most research indicates that the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) quiets brain signals, serving as the system's brakes.