GABA facts for kids

GABA, short for gamma-Aminobutyric acid, is a special chemical messenger in your brain. It's called a neurotransmitter. Think of neurotransmitters as tiny signals that help your brain cells, called neurons, talk to each other. GABA works in the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. Its main job is to slow things down. When a neuron gets a signal, it usually makes that signal stronger. But GABA is an "inhibiting" messenger. This means it can tell a neuron to calm down or even stop a signal. This helps to weaken the overall signal in the brain.

GABA helps control how active your brain cells are. It makes sure they don't get too excited. This is important for keeping your nervous system working smoothly. In humans, GABA also helps control your muscle tone, which is how much your muscles are ready to move. Interestingly, in insects, GABA works differently; it actually makes their nerve cells more active.

Even though GABA is chemically an amino acid, scientists and doctors usually don't call it that. When they say "amino acid," they usually mean the ones that build proteins. GABA is not used to build proteins.

How GABA Works in Your Brain

GABA is like a traffic controller for your brain signals. It helps keep things balanced.

Calming Brain Activity

When your brain cells get too active, it can cause problems. GABA steps in to slow down these signals. It helps prevent your brain from becoming overstimulated. This calming effect is important for many things, like feeling relaxed and focused.

Controlling Muscle Movement

GABA also plays a big role in your muscles. It helps regulate your muscle tone. This means it helps your muscles stay at the right level of tension. This is important for smooth movements and keeping your body stable.

GABA and Other Animals

GABA is found in many different animals. In mammals, like humans, it works as an inhibiting messenger, slowing down brain signals. But in insects, GABA has the opposite effect. It actually excites their nerve cells. This shows how the same chemical can have different jobs in different living things.

Images for kids

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  Release, Reuptake, and Metabolism Cycle of GABA

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  mRNA expression of the embryonic variant of the GABA-producing enzyme GAD67 in a coronal brain section of a one-day-old Wistar rat, with the highest expression in subventricular zone (svz)

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  GABAergic neurons which produce GABA

See also

In Spanish: Ácido γ-aminobutírico para niños