Chapter 11_Neuropharmacology and Substance Use

Question 1

Neuropharmacology

Answer 1

The study of drugs that affect the nervous system and behavior.

Question 2

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 2

How drugs affect the body, including mechanisms of action on the brain and nervous system.

Question 3

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 3

How the body processes drugs, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Question 4

Substance Use Disorder

Answer 4

A medical condition characterized by the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including dependence and addiction.

Question 5

Addiction

Answer 5

A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.

Question 6

Enteral Route of Administration

Answer 6

Drug administration involving the gastrointestinal tract, such as oral or rectal routes.

Question 7

Parenteral Route of Administration

Answer 7

Drug administration avoiding the gastrointestinal tract, including intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous methods.

Question 8

First-Pass Metabolism

Answer 8

The process by which drugs are metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation, reducing their bioavailability.

Question 9

Insufflation

Answer 9

The act of inhaling a powdered substance through the nose, allowing it to be absorbed through nasal blood vessels.

Question 10

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

Answer 10

A midbrain structure involved in reward and motivation, critical in addiction.

Question 11

Mesolimbic Pathway

Answer 11

A dopamine pathway from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens, involved in the sensation of pleasure and reward.

Question 12

Nucleus Accumbens

Answer 12

A brain region involved in reward and pleasure, often affected by addictive substances.

Question 13

Mesocortical Pathway

Answer 13

A dopamine pathway projecting from the VTA to the prefrontal cortex, implicated in decision-making and cognitive control.

Question 14

Intracranial-Self Stimulation

Answer 14

A method where animals press a lever to stimulate brain regions involved in reward, helping to study the brain’s reward system.

Question 15

Lateral Habenula (LHb)

Answer 15

A brain structure that inhibits dopamine neurons in the VTA, often involved in aversion and avoidance behaviors.

Question 16

Ligands

Answer 16

Molecules that bind to receptors to initiate a cellular response, including drugs and neurotransmitters.

Question 17

Agonists

Answer 17

Substances that activate receptors, mimicking the action of naturally occurring neurotransmitters.

Question 18

Orthosteric Site

Answer 18

The primary binding site on a receptor where agonists and competitive antagonists bind.

Question 19

Full Agonist

Answer 19

A ligand that fully activates a receptor, eliciting the maximum possible response.

Question 20

Partial Agonist

Answer 20

A ligand that partially activates a receptor, producing a weaker response than a full agonist.

Question 21

Inverse Agonist

Answer 21

A ligand that binds to a receptor and induces the opposite response to that of an agonist.

Question 22

Antagonists

Answer 22

Substances that block or dampen the effects of agonists at receptors.

Question 23

Competitive Antagonists

Answer 23

Substances that compete with agonists to bind to the orthosteric site on receptors.

Question 24

Allosteric Modulators

Answer 24

Molecules that bind to a receptor at a site other than the orthosteric site, influencing receptor activity.

Question 25

Allosteric Site

Answer 25

A distinct site on a receptor where allosteric modulators bind to alter receptor function.

Question 26

Positive Allosteric Modulator (PAM)

Answer 26

A substance that binds to the allosteric site and enhances the effect of the agonist on the receptor.

Question 27

Negative Allosteric Modulator (NAM)

Answer 27

A substance that binds to the allosteric site and reduces the effect of the agonist on the receptor.

Question 28

Psychoactive Substances

Answer 28

Chemicals that alter perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

Question 29

Alcohol

Answer 29

A depressant psychoactive substance that affects various neurotransmitter systems, widely used recreationally.

Question 30

Nicotine

Answer 30

The addictive substance in tobacco, acting as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Question 31

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Answer 31

Receptors that respond to acetylcholine and nicotine, involved in muscle control and cognitive processes.

Question 32

Cannabis

Answer 32

A plant containing psychoactive compounds like THC, used recreationally and medicinally.

Question 33

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Answer 33

The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, which activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

Question 34

Cannabinoid Receptors (CB Receptors)

Answer 34

Receptors in the brain and immune system activated by cannabinoids, such as THC and endocannabinoids.

Question 35

Endocannabinoids

Answer 35

Naturally occurring compounds in the body that activate cannabinoid receptors.

Question 36

Opioids

Answer 36

A class of drugs that include natural and synthetic substances, acting on opioid receptors to reduce pain and produce euphoria.

Question 37

Opioid Receptors

Answer 37

Receptors that mediate the effects of opioids, involved in pain relief and pleasure.

Question 38

Endorphin

Answer 38

A natural opioid-like neurotransmitter that reduces pain and enhances feelings of pleasure.

Question 39

Cocaine

Answer 39

A stimulant drug that increases levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin by blocking their reuptake.

Question 40

Reuptake Inhibitor

Answer 40

A substance that blocks the reabsorption of neurotransmitters into neurons, enhancing their effects.

Question 41

Psychedelics

Answer 41

A class of drugs that alter perception, mood, and thought, often acting on serotonin receptors.

Question 42

Tolerance

Answer 42

The diminished response to a drug after repeated use, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

Question 43

Metabolic Tolerance

Answer 43

Tolerance that develops as the body becomes more efficient at metabolizing a drug.

Question 44

Functional Tolerance

Answer 44

Tolerance where changes at the receptor level reduce sensitivity to a drug.

Question 45

Conditional Tolerance

Answer 45

Tolerance that develops due to environmental cues associated with drug use, leading to anticipatory responses.

Question 46

Sensitization

Answer 46

The increased response to a drug after repeated use, often associated with stimulants.

Question 47

Dependence

Answer 47

The physical or psychological need to continue using a drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Question 48

Withdrawal

Answer 48

Physical and mental symptoms that occur when a person stops or reduces drug use after dependency.

Question 49

Self-Administration

Answer 49

A method where animals or humans control their own drug intake, used in research to study addiction.

Question 50

Conditioned Place Preference

Answer 50

A behavioral test that measures an animal’s preference for a drug-associated environment.

Question 51

Hedonia Hypothesis

Answer 51

The theory that addiction is driven by the dopamine-induced pleasure from drugs.

Question 52

Incentive Sensitization Model

Answer 52

The theory that addiction results from increased motivation or “wanting” of a drug due to sensitized neural pathways.

Question 53

Relapse

Answer 53

The return to drug use after a period of abstinence, often triggered by environmental cues.

Question 54

Incubation of Craving

Answer 54

The phenomenon where craving for a drug intensifies over a period of abstinence.

Question 55

Brain Disease Model of Addiction

Answer 55

The view that addiction is a chronic disease involving structural and functional changes in the brain.