Which neurotransmitter is most closely tied to mood regulation and is often targeted in depression therapies?

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in mood regulation and is significantly involved in the pathophysiology of depression. It is well-established that low levels of serotonin are associated with depressive symptoms. Many antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), specifically target the serotonin system to increase the availability of this neurotransmitter in the brain. This mechanism is aimed at enhancing mood and alleviating depressive symptoms, which highlights serotonin's key role in emotional regulation and how it is often the focus of therapeutic interventions for depression.

While neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine are also involved in mood and can be affected in depression, serotonin has been most closely linked to the regulation of mood and the effectiveness of depression treatments. Glutamate, while an important neurotransmitter in the brain, is not primarily associated with mood regulation in the same way as serotonin.