Cocaine and its effects on synaptic transmission

Question 1

What is cocaine?

Answer 1

Is a powerful CNS stimulant native to the Andes Mountains in South America.

Question 2

How can it be taken?

Answer 2

It can be swallowed, smoked or snorted

Question 3

How long do the effects last for?

Answer 3

15-30 minutes

Question 4

What do users experience?

Answer 4

Euphoria, self-confidence, energy and alertness

Question 5

What happens after the drug is taken?

Answer 5

A “crash” when the drug wears off and the pleasurable affects make it highly addictive

Question 6

How does cocaine impact the transmission process in CNS

Answer 6

Cocaine works on the reward pathway and dopamine receptors.
Works by blocking the binding site of the reuptake receptors and as such stop the reuptake of dopamine back into the pre synaptic neuron
The blocking of reuptake means excess dopamine in the synapse which leads to over stimulation of post synaptic receptors

Question 7

What does cocaine prevent?

Answer 7

Prevents them from being reabsorbed by the neurons that released them and thus increases their concentration in the synapses, the natural effect of dopamine on the post - synaptic neurons is amplified.

Question 8

How do people become dependent on cocaine?

Answer 8

The brain becomes to rely on the drug to maintain the high degree of pleasure associated with the artificially elevated levels of some neurotransmitters its reward circuits.

Question 9

What happens due to over stimulation?

Answer 9

Dopamine receptors of the post-synaptic neuron is that they become damaged and fewer leading to desensitisation and addiction

Question 10

What methods are used to investigate the effects of cocaine?

Answer 10

Controlled, laboratory experiments.