Posted by Mistermindmasta on December 4, 2004, at 13:50:11
In reply to Re: I was hoping someone would have an answer to this » cherylann, posted by lostforwards on December 3, 2004, at 10:44:13
> Here's a link:
>
> http://www.itmonline.org/arts/theanine.htm
>
>
> "Increase of dopamine levels and changes of serotonin levels by l-theanine have been observed"
>
> One study: Yokogoshi H, Mochizuki M, and Saitoh K, Theanine-induced reduction of brain serotonin concentration in rats, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 1998; 62(4): 816-817
>
>This study is somewhat informative, but it's just as important to know WHERE it affects these neurotransmitters. Serotonin can have stimulatory or inhibitory effects.
That being said, I generally associate increased dopamine with more motivation, but my experiences with L theanine are that it doesnt increase motivation, so maybe it increases dopamine in the nigrostriatal tract, since it seems to make me feel more relaxed. Just guessing here. I were to define L theanine's neurotransmitter effects based on how
it subjectively feels, i'd say it increases GABA and lowers serotonin (i guess that agrees with the article), since I tend to feel a bit of dysphoria from it. Things are less exciting under the influence of theanine, which i find to be too unacceptable to use on a daily basis, but it certainly does make me more calm and can allow some aspects of my cognition to function better.
poster:Mistermindmasta
thread:421291
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041123/msgs/424358.html