ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Monoamine neurotransmitter

Okay kiddo, so let's start with some basics. Our brain is like a big computer, and it sends messages to different parts of our body through special chemicals called neurotransmitters. Think of them like letters that are sent from one part of the brain to another.

Now, one type of neurotransmitter is called a monoamine neurotransmitter. These are special because they are made up of only one type of chemical called an amine. This chemical helps to regulate our mood, thoughts, and behaviors.

One popular monoamine neurotransmitter is called serotonin. This is because it helps us feel happy and relaxed. When we have enough serotonin in our brain, we feel positive and upbeat. But if we don't have enough, we can feel sad or anxious.

Another type of monoamine neurotransmitter is dopamine. This one is responsible for giving us a feeling of pleasure and reward when we do things that are good for us, like eating healthy food or exercising. But sometimes we can become addicted to things like drugs or video games because they give us too much dopamine, which can be dangerous.

So basically, monoamine neurotransmitters are a special kind of chemical that helps our brain send messages and control our emotions and behaviors. They are important for making us feel good and happy, but we need to be careful not to get too much of them.