Neurotransmitter vs. Neuromodulator

Neurotransmitternoun

Any substance, such as acetylcholine or dopamine, responsible for sending nerve signals across a synapse between two neurons.

Neurotransmitternoun

transmits nerve impulses across a synapse

Neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit a signal from a neuron across the synapse to a target cell, which can be a different neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances made by the neuron specifically to transmit a message.Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles in synapses into the synaptic cleft, where they are received by neurotransmitter receptors on the target cell.

Neuromodulatornoun

(neuroscience) A substance other than a neurotransmitter, released by a neuron at a synapse and conveying information to adjacent or distant neurons, either enhancing or dampening their activities