Question about the specific effects of SSRIs

[ItDoesn'tMatter]

I know that SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin from synapses, and therefore cause the receptors on the postsynaptic neuron to be activated for a longer period of time. Does this have any effect on the signal sent? (for example, does it make it so the signal takes longer to process?, etc)

 

[Tom.G]

Not exactly addressing your question, but is related.

I know two people that say their reaction time is speeded up when taking sertraline hydrochloride. For instance when they fumble a piece of paper they recapture it much more frequently than expected; say fumbled from chest height and re-captured about at the waist.

I recently read a study (don't have a link for it but am pretty sure it was in the journal "Science".) that concluded SSRI's largely recovered the ability to solve problems, but inhibited the ability to apply that learning to other similar, but different, problems. Most strange.

 

[Fervent Freyja]

Yes, at the right dose, the signalling will be slightly faster than normal. However, if too much is taken over time, serotonin levels can fluctuate dramatically, which leads to downregulation of serotonin receptors (damage); in that case, it will probably take the signals longer to process. It is possible to overdose on this class of drugs and develop serotonin syndrome.