A collective designation for the specific class of endogenous chemical messengers—including neurotransmitters, hormones, and neurotrophic factors—that are essential and directly involved in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory formation. These molecules are indispensable for initiating and maintaining synaptic plasticity, the physical changes in neural connections that form the basis of all acquired knowledge. Clinical optimization of these molecules is a core strategy for cognitive longevity.
Origin
This concept is a direct result of decades of molecular and cellular neuroscience, particularly the research that elucidated mechanisms like Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and the discovery of growth factors in the central nervous system. The term serves to simplify the complex chemical environment of the brain into tangible, intervention-relevant targets. This knowledge is fundamental to understanding age-related cognitive decline and therapeutic neuro-enhancement.
Mechanism
Key molecules like glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter, are critical for initiating the cascade that leads to LTP, strengthening synaptic connections. Neurotrophic factors, such as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), actively promote the survival, differentiation, and structural remodeling of neurons, essentially acting as the fertilizer for brain growth. Furthermore, steroid hormones, including estrogen and cortisol, modulate memory processes by influencing receptor density and synaptic structure within the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
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