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GABA Signalling

Process Cns

The brain's main inhibitory signal, and the channel that alcohol, benzodiazepines and the neurosteroid allopregnanolone all act on. Anabolic steroids act on it directly too, at a site that overlaps the benzodiazepine site, which is a route to mental effects that has nothing to do with the androgen receptor.

Relationships

4 connections

GABA Signalling binds

GABA-A Receptor

The brain's main calming channel. Some androgen metabolites sit on it as neurosteroids and change anxiety and sleep quality without touching the androgen receptor at all.

Neurosteroid Production

Steroids made or converted inside the brain that act on ion channels. The route by which an androgen changes anxiety and sleep without touching the androgen receptor.

GABA Signalling reduces risk of

Anxiety

Restlessness, racing thoughts, a wired feeling. Multiple routes reach it: neurosteroid changes at GABA-A, glucocorticoid signalling, sleep loss and thicker blood.

GABA Signalling suppresses

Lateral Anterior Hypothalamus

The convergence point of the aggression circuit and the best-characterised site of a steroid effect on behaviour anywhere in the literature. Adolescent exposure changes vasopressin, dopamine, serotonin and GABA signalling here together, which is why the behaviour change is not undone by acting on any one of them.

Beyond this page

GABA Signalling also connects to 2 entries in the applied modules, covering supplements, compounds, hormones and food sources. Those carry the mechanism and the evidence tier behind each link, and they are part of client coaching.

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