What is Serotonin?
'''Serotonin''' is a [[neurotransmitter]]. Its chemical name is '''5-Hydroxytryptamine''' or '''5-HT'''. It is derived from [[tryptophan]]. Serotonin is found in all [[vertebrate]]s, mainly in the [[gastrointestinal tract]], blood [[platelet]]s and [[central nervous system]]. Its name is derived from its effect on [[blood pressure]]: serotonin is a part of the ''[[serum]]'' which regulates the ''tonus'' of [[blood vessel]]s. Serotonin does several jobs within the [[human body]]. Unlike [[dopamine]], serotonin causes [[happiness]], while dopamine causes [[pleasure]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kauper|first=Gabriel|title=Happiness vs. Pleasure and Why it Matters at Work|url=https://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/the-difference-between-happiness-vs.-pleasure-and-why-it-matters-at-work|access-date=2022-03-19|website=blog.deliveringhappiness.com|language=en-us|archive-date=2022-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701193131/https://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/the-difference-between-happiness-vs.-pleasure-and-why-it-matters-at-work|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is believed to regulate mood, intestinal activity and appetite, memory, and sleep. Many [[antidepressant]] medications are thought to work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the body<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825|title=Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)|work=Mayo Clinic|access-date=2018-05-30|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stahl|first=S. M.|date=December 1998|title=Mechanism of action of serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin receptors and pathways mediate therapeutic effects and side effects|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10333979|journal=Journal of Affective Disorders|volume=51|issue=3|pages=215–235|doi=10.1016/s0165-0327(98)00221-3|issn=0165-0327|pmid=10333979}}</ref> even though depression is not caused by low serotonin. Some non-medical treatments for depression have also been shown to raise serotonin levels.<ref>{{Cite journa