Bio Psych: Effect of recreational drugs on Synaptic Transmission Flashcards

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1
Q

What are drugs?

A

biochemicals, effect functioning of body systems

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2
Q

What are the 2 types of drugs? Describe them briefly.

A
  • Physiologcial (improve physical health)

- Psychological (effect mind + behaviour + transmission in CNS)

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3
Q

Give 1 example each for the 2 types of drugs

A
  • Physio e.g. steroids / antibiotics

- Psych. e.g. anti-depressants like serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

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4
Q

What are recreational drugs?

A

(drug definition), taken for pleasure

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5
Q

What is the Reward Pathway? Give 3 points and an example of one.

A
  • (in brain) causes pleasant feeling
  • we repeat behaviour for pathway
  • has adaptive functions + evolved (e.g. we store fat for famine prep)
  • e.g. sugary foods
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6
Q

What do drugs do to the Reward Pathway?

A
  • hijack Reward System = pleasure without adaptive functioning
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7
Q

What is Dopamine? Give 2 points

A
  • NT in Reward Pathway

- pathways flooded w/ Dopamine in pleasure activities

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8
Q

What are 3 types of recreational drugs?

A
  • Alcohol
  • Amphetamines
  • Ecstasy
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9
Q

What is the type of effect Alcohol has on the CNS?

A
  • depressive effect
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10
Q

What are the NTs involved with Alcohol and which is inhibitory?

A

Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA (inhibitory), glutamate

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11
Q

How does Alcohol work in synaptic transmission? Give 2 points. (Mode of action)

A
  • neurons ‘burn out’ => reactions of pathways slowed down

- increases GABA’s effect on brain => sluggish movement + slurred speech

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12
Q

What are some long-term (LT) effects of Alcohol on the body?

A

LT effects: poor memory, impulsive behaviours, increase in blood pressure => stroke / heart attack

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13
Q

What is the type of effect Amphetamines have on the CNS synaptic transmission process?

A

stimulant

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14
Q

What are the NTs involved with Amphetamines?

A

dopamine and norepinephrine

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15
Q

How do Amphetamines work in synaptic transmission? Give 2 points. (Mode of action)

A
  • release hormones for alertness and survival mode e.g. adrenaline / insulin
  • block Dopamine reuptake = more dopamine in synapse
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16
Q

What are some long-term (LT) effects of Amphetamines on the body?

A

Breathing troubles, seizures, Psychosis, extreme fatigue

17
Q

What is the type of effect Ecstasy has on the CNS synaptic transmission process?

A

stimulant

18
Q

What are the NTs involved with Ecstasy?

A
  • Serotonin (happiness), dopamine (pleasure) + norepinephrine (a euphoric state).
19
Q

How does Ecstasy work in synaptic transmission? (Mode of action)

A

blocks reuptake of all the NTs = more of each in synapse

20
Q

What are some long-term (LT) effects of Ecstasy on the body?

A

heart damage, depression, aggression

21
Q

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give supporting evidence (AO3+1)

A
  • AO3: evidence for role of dopamine in reward pathways e.g. Weinshenker + Schroeder (2007): lesioned brain area, mice, dopamine not produced => no self-administering cocaine = dopamine makes drug addictive)
  • AO1: (reward pathway definition)
22
Q

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give a competing argument for the supporting evidence (AO3)

A
  • unethical (mice can’t consent, vulnerable) / artificial situation (self-administering cocaine) / low generalisability (humans brains more complex than animals’)
23
Q

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Is it Testable? (AO3+1)

A
  • AO3: Not fully testable, human brain is complex, complex networks + interactions, not generalisable
  • AO1: (Ecstasy’s function = shows complexity)
24
Q

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give a competing argument for the ‘Testable’ part of SCOUT (AO3+1)

A
  • AO3: human studies show sim results = Testable
  • AO1: e.g. PET scans, track dopamine transporters’ activity, cocaine induced high, discovery: higher activity (linked to higher dopamine) increased ptps’ intense feelings
25
Q

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give Usefulness (application) (AO3+1)

A
  • AO3: useful to develop better treatments for addiction (e.g. drugs w/ adverse effect that reduce symptoms) + knowledge of LT effects encourages quitting addiction
  • AO1: (LT effects of Ecstasy)
26
Q

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give balanced conc (AO3)

A
  • Good: knowledge of neurology of recreational drugs = bio basis for addiction
  • Bad: long way to go to understanding drug effects (complex NT systems)