Which neurotransmitter is mainly associated with emotional responses and mood regulation?

The neurotransmitter primarily associated with emotional responses and mood regulation is serotonin. This chemical plays a crucial role in the brain's ability to regulate emotions, mood, anxiety, and overall emotional well-being. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, highlighting its vital function in maintaining a stable mood.

Serotonin contributes to feelings of happiness and well-being, influencing various emotional states. It is involved in processes such as emotional regulation, social behavior, appetite, and sleep, all of which can impact an individual's emotional health. Antidepressant medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, further underscoring its importance in emotion and mood regulation.

Other neurotransmitters, while important in their own right, play different roles in the brain’s functioning and emotional states. Dopamine, for example, is primarily linked to reward and pleasure mechanisms, while norepinephrine is associated with arousal and the body's stress response. GABA predominantly acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system and influencing anxiety levels but not directly regulating mood in the same fundamental way that serotonin does.