Neuromodulator
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A neuromodulator is a substance other than a neurotransmitter, released by a neuron at a synapse and conveying information to adjacent or distant neurons, either enhancing or damping their activities.
A neuromodulator is a relatively new concept in the field and it can also be considered as a neurotransmitter that is not reabsorbed by the pre-synaptic neuron or broken down into a metabolite. Such neuromodulator end up spending a significant amount of time in the CSF (cortico-spinal fluid) and influencing (or modulating) the overall activity level of the brain. For this reasons, some neurotransmitters are also considered as neuromodulators. Examples of neuromodulators in this category: serotonin and acetylcholine. Template:Biochem-stub