Skip to main content

Neurosteroid Effects

Meaning

The localized actions of steroid hormones that are synthesized de novo within the central and peripheral nervous systems, independent of classical endocrine gland production, and which rapidly modulate neuronal excitability and function. These neurosteroids, such as allopregnanolone and DHEA, act on specific neurotransmitter receptors, particularly GABA-A and NMDA receptors, influencing mood, anxiety, cognition, and stress response. Their rapid, non-genomic effects distinguish them from traditional, slow-acting systemic hormones, making them crucial regulators of neurobehavioral health.