capable of interneuron inhibitory interneuron GABAergic neuron GABAergic interneuron An interneuron that uses GABA as a vesicular neurotransmitter. These interneurons are inhibitory GABAergic interneuron GABAergic inhibitory interneuron GABAergic interneurons, a major subtype of neurons, are characterized by the secretion of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) – the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) of mammals. These cells play a crucial role in balancing the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission within neural networks. GABAergic neurons are particularly important for maintaining homeostasis within the brain, and any imbalance in GABAergic neurotransmission is often associated with neurological disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and mood disorders, highlighting their significance in the nervous system. The primary function of GABAergic interneurons is to inhibit neural transmission or modulate the degree of activation of other neurons. They achieve this task by releasing GABA neurotransmitter, which binds to GABA receptors on other cells, resulting in a decrease of neuronal excitability. They form extensive circuits and are intricately involved in various neural processes including learning and memory, sensory perception, and motor control among others. Additionally, subsets of GABAergic interneurons serve as pacemakers in various brain rhythms thus contributing to cognitive processes such as attention and sensory perception. GABAergic interneurons are not a homogenous group, they vary in terms of morphology, distribution, and function in the brain. For example, interneurons in the hippocampus regulate the transmission of information by inhibiting the flow of excitatory signals as part of a feedback loop. Other types, found predominantly in the cerebral cortex (like basket cells), exert control over a larger network of cells. Thus, despite being inhibitory in nature, their impact on neuronal circuitry broadens the diversity of information flow within the brain, hence potentiating information processing and ensuring proper nervous system function. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) The formal and textual definitions of this term will need to be altered if evidence for non-inhibitory GABA-ergic neurons emerges. https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0011005 gamma-aminobutyric acid secretion, neurotransmission Homo sapiens