Editing Excitatory synapse (section)

===Catecholamines===
:The [[catecholamine]]s, which include [[Epinephrine]], [[Norepinephrine]], and [[Dopamine]], are excitatory biogenic amine [[Neuromodulation|neuromodulators]] that are derived from the amino acid [[tyrosine]] and serve as excitatory neurotransmitters at various locations in the central nervous system as well as the [[peripheral nervous system]].  Epinephrine and norepinephrine, also called [[adrenaline]] and noradrenaline, respectively, bind a number of G-protein-coupled receptors that induce their depolarizing effects on the postsynaptic cell in various ways, including activating and inactivating certain K<sup>+</sup> channels.  Epinephrine is found in the [[Tegmentum|lateral tegmental system]], [[Medulla oblongata|medulla]], [[hypothalamus]], and [[thalamus]] of the central nervous system, but their function is not fully understood.  Norepinephrine is found in the [[brain stem]] and is involved in sleep and wakefulness, feeding behavior, and attention.  Dopamine binds to G-protein-coupled receptors in many areas of the brain, especially the [[corpus striatum]] where it mediates the synaptic transmission that underlies the coordination of body movements.<ref name="Neuroscience, 4th ed."/>