The sympathetic neurons releases norepinephrine, also called noradrenaline, and the cells of the adrenal medulla release norepinephrine and epinephrine, also called adrenaline.
Norepinephrine amplifies signals related to attention and motivation, and dopamine is highly involved in learning, movement, and operating the brain's reward center.
To help you focus, norepinephrine creates a sort of tunnel vision, blocking out surrounding distractions, possibly even warping your sense of time, and enhancing your memory.
Interestingly, one of the most effective antipsychotic drugs, clozapine, is a weak D2 antagonist, suggesting that other neurotransmitter systems like norepinephrine, serotonin, and GABA are involved.