Beyond Classical Categories: A Modern Taxonomic Framework for Brain Neurotransmitters Based on Chemical Structure and Functional Diversity

Arnab Roy, Nisha Kumari , Pratik Mondal , Ravi Kumar , Balraj Kumar , Dheeraj Prasad , Manish Kumar Chandravanshi , Munna Kumar Sharma , Raj Kumar Rajak , Anuj Vishwakarma , Adarsh Kumar Singh , Basant Kumar Verma , Pravin Kumar , Kuldeep Kumar , Jaybir Singh , Chandra Shekhar Gope , Khusboo Kumari ,

doi:10.5281/zenodo.16668165

Review Paper | Open Access
Volume 02 | Issue 08 | Article Id IJSRT/250307063

Beyond Classical Categories: A Modern Taxonomic Framework for Brain Neurotransmitters Based on Chemical Structure and Functional Diversity
Arnab Roy* ² Nisha Kumari ¹ Pratik Mondal ¹ Ravi Kumar ¹ Balraj Kumar ¹ Dheeraj Prasad ¹ Manish Kumar Chandravanshi ¹ Munna Kumar Sharma ¹ Raj Kumar Rajak ¹ Anuj Vishwakarma ¹ Adarsh Kumar Singh ¹ Basant Kumar Verma ¹ Pravin Kumar ¹ Kuldeep Kumar ¹ Jaybir Singh ¹ Chandra Shekhar Gope ¹ Khusboo Kumari ¹
Department of Pharmacy, Sai Nath University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-835219, India

Abstract

The traditional classification of neurotransmitters has significantly evolved from early binary distinctions to cover a complex spectrum of chemical messengers with various structural and functional properties. This review presents an integral taxonomic framework that integrates the chemical structure with functional diversity to better understand the intricate communication networks within the brain. We examine how the classic categories of amino acids, biogenic amines, neuropeptides, purines and gaseous neurotransmitters intersect with functional roles that include excitement, inhibition, modulation, neuroendocrine signalling and stress responses. The emerging image reveals a highly interconnected system in which individual neurotransmitters often fulfil multiple functions in different regions and brain contexts, challenging traditional binary classifications and supporting the need for more nuanced taxonomic approaches in contemporary neuroscience.

Keywords

Neurotransmitter classification, Taxonomic Framework, synaptic transmission, neuroendocrine signalling, neuroscience

Introduction

The human brain operates through a sophisticated chemical communication system that involves dozens of neurotransmitter molecules that facilitate the transfer of information among billions of neurons. Since the early identification of acetylcholine and the subsequent discovery of other chemical messengers, our understanding of the diversity and function of neurotransmitters has expanded dramatically. However, traditional classification systems, although fundamental, have become increasingly inappropriate to capture all the complexity of brain chemistry. The classic approaches to typically classified neurotransmitters based on the chemical structure or primary function, creating artificial limits that obscure multifaceted nature of neural signalling. The reality of the neurotransmitter function reveals a more complex image in which individual molecules can comply with multiple roles, display context dependent effects and participate in overlapping networks that defy simple categorization. This review proposes a modern taxonomic framework that recognizes both chemical diversity and the functional plasticity of neurotransmitters. When examining how structural characteristics are related to functional skills while recognizing nature that depends on the context of neuronal signage, we can develop a more comprehensive understanding of brain chemistry that best serves the investigation of contemporary neuroscience and clinical applications.