neurochemistry

noun

neu·​ro·​chem·​is·​try ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈke-mə-strē 

ˌnyu̇r-

1

: the study of the chemical makeup and activities of nervous tissue

2

: chemical processes and phenomena related to the nervous system

neurochemical

ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈke-mi-kəl 

ˌnyu̇r-

adjective or noun

neurochemist

ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈke-mist 

ˌnyu̇r-

noun

Examples of neurochemistry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s an insightful look at what brain imaging and neurochemistry research has shown us about how grief, loss and depression can reshape the brain, changing both its physical structure and chemical function. —Deborah Blum, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

Serotonin is popularly associated with happiness, dopamine with motivation and pleasure — but what the heck would DMT be doing in the neurochemistry of our minds? —Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

How does a fly’s neurochemistry compare to a human’s? —Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2024

Studies in animals showed fluoride could impact neurochemistry cell function in brain regions responsible for learning, memory, executive function and behavior. —Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024

Latent cysts have been shown to cause structural changes in the brain as well as alterations in hormones and neurochemistry. —Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024

Psychiatrists who had previously embraced psychodynamic training were increasingly drawn to the fields of genetics and neurochemistry, and academic psychologists, who had always been skeptical, began further distancing themselves from Freudian theory. —Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023

The research happening today, which focuses on the neurochemistry of music and the body, veers away from this sexist ideology. —Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2023

He’s traveled the world and searched the historical annals to present the story of alcohol, from the life cycle of yeast to the neurochemistry of a hangover. —Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2014

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for neurochemistry

• biochemistry
• cytochemistry
• geochemistry
• histochemistry
• photochemistry
• phytochemistry
• thermochemistry
• biogeochemistry
• chemistry
• electrochemistry
• immunochemistry
• radiochemistry

Medical Definition

neurochemistry

noun

neu·​ro·​chem·​is·​try -ˈkem-ə-strē 

plural neurochemistries

1

: the study of the chemical makeup and activities of nervous tissue

2

: chemical processes and phenomena related to the nervous system

neurochemical

-ˈkem-i-kəl 

adjective or noun

neurochemically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb