the odd relation of reindeer and peace pipes

[ineffabelle]

Nicotinic_acetylcholine_receptor

Muscarinic_acetylcholine_receptor

Acetylcholine

Comments

[mylnin.livejournal.com]

Autonomic_nervous_system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_nervous_system)

[ineffabelle]

that's a bit broad.

[mylnin.livejournal.com]

and not a great quality article as well, I'm afraid... do you have more tasty pointers to share on this topic?

[ineffabelle]

Well it was just interesting that the two major classes of acetylcholine receptors were also agonized by nicotine and muscarine, respectively.

Amanita Muscaria is responsible for a lot of European mythology (including most of the Christmas symbolism), and Nicotine, besides being terribly addictive, was used in trance states by Native Americans.

Acetylcholine is in some ways, the "master" neurotransmitter involved in learning and attention.