Chapter 4B: Chapter 4 The Chemistry of Behavior: Neurotransmitters and Neuropharmacology

Question 1

Antipsychotics (neuroleptics)

Answer 1

Class of drugs used to treat schizophrenia

Question 2

First-generation antipsychotics

Answer 2

Selectively target dopamine D2 receptors

Antagonists

Reduce positive (onset of new) symptoms of schizophrenia, like delusions and hallucinations

Question 3

Second-generation antipsychotics

Answer 3

Affect both dopamine AND serotonin receptors

Helps with negative (withdrawl or lack of something that would normally be there) symptoms, like blunted emotional responses

Question 4

Antidepressants

Answer 4

Reduce chronic mood disturbances

Accumulating monoamines and prolonging their activity is a major feature of antidepressants

Question 5

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Answer 5

Prevents breakdown of monoamines
Accumulation of these in synaptic cleft for longer

Question 6

Tricyclic antidepressants

Answer 6

Increase norepinephrine and serotonin by blocking reuptake

Question 7

Reuptake

Answer 7

When neurons reabsorb neurotransmitters after they have been used to transmit signals

Question 8

Anxiolytics (tranquilizers)

Answer 8

Reduce nervous system activity

Question 9

Barbiturates

Answer 9

One of the OG anxiolytics
Are addictive

Question 10

Benzodiazepine agonists

Answer 10

Anxiolytic
More selective
More frequently prescribed

Act on GABA A receptors to enhance inhibitory effects of GABA

Goal is to recude exitability in the nervous system (anxiety, etc.)

Question 11

Opiates

Answer 11

Potently relieve pain
Extracted from poppyseed flowers

Morphine
Heroin
Oxycodone and fentanyl

Question 12

Endogenous opioids

Answer 12

Peptides produced in the body that bind to opioid receptors and relieve pain:
Enkephalins
Endorphins
Dynorphins

Question 13

Three main kinds of opioid receptors

Answer 13

delta, kappa, mu

Question 14

Naloxone and naltrexone

Answer 14

Drugs that block opioid receptors, can rapidly reverse effects in case of overdose

Question 15

Opiate antagonists

Answer 15

Can block rewarding effects of drugs like heroin, so can be useful in treating addiction

Question 16

Buprenorphine

Answer 16

Partial agonist, can bind to receptor, helpful for withdrawal in opioid use disorder

Question 17

Cannabinoids

Answer 17

Cannabis

Two main active ingredients:
THC
CBD

Effects include relaxation and mood alteration, but can also cause stimulation and paranoia

Occasional use seems harmless, but heavy use linked to respiratory issues, neuropsychiatric disorders, cognitive decline, etc.

Question 18

Two kinds of cannabinoid receptors

Answer 18

CB1 receptors: only found in CNS

CB2 receptors: prominent in the immune system

Question 19

Endocannabinoids

Answer 19

Endogenous ligand to cannabinoid receptors

Can act as retrograde messengers and may influence neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic neuron

Question 20

Example of an endocannabinoid

Answer 20

Ex: Anandamide

Diverse functions, like altering memory formation, etc.
Can combat nausea and lower eye pressure from glaucoma

Question 21

Stimulants

Answer 21

Increase nervous system activity

Many naturally occurring, some synthetic

Some act by increasing excitatory synaptic potentials, others block inhibitory processes

Question 22

Examples of stimulants

Answer 22

Nicotine, amphetamine, caffeine, cocaine

Question 23

Nicotine

Answer 23

From tobacco

Increases heart pressure, blood pressure, acid secretion from stomach, and intestinal activity

Short-term effects are pleasurable, but long-term effects can be harmful

Question 24

Nicotine receptors

Answer 24

Acts as an agonist on nicotinic ACh receptors in the body and brain

Rewarding effects are mediated by receptors in the ventral tegmental area

Question 25

Cocaine

Answer 25

Purified extract from the coca shrub
All forms are highly addictive and many negative side effects

Blocks monoamine transporters– especially dopamine– slowing reuptake of neurotransmitters

Also increases the amount of dopamine released

Question 26

Amphetamine and methamphetamine

Answer 26

Synthetic stimulants

Short-term effects: alertness, euphoria, increased stamina

Long-term effects: weight loss, sleeplessness, deterioration of mental and physical condition (may lead to symptoms similar to schizophrenia)

Question 27

How amphetamine and methamphetamine work

Answer 27

Induce release of transmitters from presynaptic terminals (cause exocytosis without getting neuron to fire)

Increase release of NT when neurons do fire

Block reuptake of NT into presynaptic cell

Provide an alternative target for breakdown enzymes

Question 28

Alcohol

Answer 28

Biphasic
Can act as both a stimulant and a depressant
Initial stimulant followed by prolonged depressant phase

Question 29

Alcohol’s action at GABA A receptors

Answer 29

Increases inhibitory effects

Social disinhibition, impaired motor coordination, and sensory disturbances

Also stimulates some dopamine pathways, causing slightly euphoric effects

Question 30

Alcohol abuse

Answer 30

Damages nerve cells, in particular: superior frontal cortex, Purkinje cells of cerebellum, and hippocampal pyramidal cells

Periodic overconsumption, or bingeing, may cause brain damage and reduce neurogenesis

Question 31

Hallucinogens (psychedelics)

Answer 31

Alter sensory perception

LSD (acid), mescaline (peyote), and psylocybin (mushrooms)

Question 32

LSD

Answer 32

Acts as serotonin agonist or partial agonist

Question 33

Psilocybin

Answer 33

Shrooms

Serotonin agonist

Reduce activity in medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex – brain regions that inhibit limbic emotion and processing

Question 34

Ketamine

Answer 34

Potent analgesic and anesthetic

NDMA receptor antagonist in prefrontal cortex

Question 35

MDMA

Answer 35

Ecstacy
Hallucinogenic amphetamine derivative

Increases serotonin levels and changes in dopamine, oxytocin, and prolactin levels

Question 36

Addiction

Answer 36

A chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful or adverse consequences

Question 37

The pursuit of rewarding experiences drives behavior

Answer 37

Early in life, behavior is driven by immediate rewards (ex: food and water)

When you get older, more value is placed on long-term rewards (ex: grades)

Reward-seeking behavior helps to guide our motivations so we can put in effort that’s required to obtain them
Can start to be maladaptive and lead to neural changes in circuitry

Question 38

Where do drugs act in the brain?

Answer 38

Reward pathway

Many addictive drugs cause dopamine release in nucleus accumbens from neurons that originate in the ventral tegmental area

Question 39

Biological factors of addiction

Answer 39

Women more likely to self-medicate and can become addicted much more quickly

Men more likely to take drugs in groups

Personality, genetics, heritability

Question 40

Social factors of addiction

Answer 40

Amount of support you have, knowing dangers of drug use

Question 41

Environmental effects of addiction

Answer 41

Availability

Question 42

Medical interventions for substance abuse

Answer 42

Partial agonists and benzodiazepines can be used for withdrawal

Altering the body’s response to the abuse drug

Blocking the brain’s reward system

Question 43

What if you keep taking drugs?

Answer 43

Can downregulate amount of receptors in postsynaptic cell

Alters reward circuitry, and individual’s ability to experience pleasure is reduced

Eventually, addicts need to take it to elevate dopamine levels to feel normal