by Joseph Knoll

The term, “synthetic enhancer substance” refers to a manufactured copy of “an endogenous enhancer substance”, which increases the activity of special neurons which are sensitive to the natural substance. The term was coined by Joseph Knoll in his monograph “The Brain and Its Self” published in 2005. The prototype of “synthetic enhancer substances” is deprenyl, a manufactured copy of the “natural enhancer substance“, β-phenylethylamine (PEA) which, similar to PEA, increases the activity of catecholamine producing neurons. Introduction of the concept of “synthetic enhancer substance” was based on Knoll and Miklya’s findings in 1994 that subcutaneous administration of deprenyl in a dose range of 0.01- 0.1 mg/kg daily for 21 days, increased statistically significantly (P<0.001) both dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the striatum, substantia nigra and tuberculum olfactorium and locus coeruleus, respectively (Knoll and Miklya 1994).

Knoll J. The Brain and Its Self. A Neurochemical Concept of the Innate and Acquired Drives. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York, 2005. pp. 25-94

Knoll J., Miklya I. Multiple small dose administration of (-)-deprenyl enhances catecholaminergic activity and diminshes serotonergic activity in the brain and these effects are unrelated to MAO-B inhibition. Archives internationales Pharmacodynamie de Therapie. 1994; 328: 1-15

Joseph Knoll

January 15, 2015