Drugs for Attention

Question 1

The arousal system is made of…

Answer 1

(reticular formation) is made of neurons that release acetylcholine, histamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.

Question 2

Important brain areas for attention

Answer 2

cortex (frontal cortex), the basal ganglia and the thalamus

Question 3

What accumulates when the brain is awake (causes one to feel sleepy) and is cleared when the brain is asleep

Answer 3

adenosine

Question 4

Medicines for attention work by…

Answer 4

blocking norepinephrine transporter

Question 5

2 neurons that are responsible for arousal:

Answer 5

Dopamine & norepinephrine

Question 6

2 Actions of Caffine

Answer 6

1) Antagonist of adenosine receptor
2) Inhibitor of phosphodiesterase enzyme

Question 7

Psychostimulants

Answer 7

Drugs that promote wakefulness and attention- often increase motor activity as well (movement)

Question 8

Norepinephrine

Answer 8

fight or flight response

Question 9

Psychostimulants targets

Answer 9

most psychostimulants are DAT and NET (and some extent of SERT) blockers

Question 10

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Answer 10

• Difficulties with voluntary attention, increases in involuntary attention (distraction) & impulsivity
• Memory impairments, problems with executive function (planning ahead & prioritizing)

Question 11

Narcolepsy

Answer 11

is a sleep disorder where disruptions in sleep structure prevent quality sleep, and extreme sleepiness during the day occurs. People can also experience the muscle paralysis that accompanies sleep (during their waking hours).

Question 12

The drug treatments for ADD and ADHD are

Answer 12

psychostimulants that increase the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
- They either prevent the clearance of these neurotransmitters or they cause the neurotransmitter to be reverse-transported into the synapse

Question 13

3 psychostimulants

Answer 13

1. Amphetamine
2. methylphenidate
3. modafinil

Question 14

Modafinil (Provigil)

Answer 14

• Not clear with its mechanism of action
• increases arousal/alertness. It is used to treat the daytime sleepiness that occurs and it also prevents muscle paralysis
• Inhibits DAT and NET

Question 15

Heritability of ADHD

Answer 15

70-80%

Question 16

Heritability of Depression

Answer 16

30%

Question 17

The reticular activating system (RAS)

Answer 17

sets arousal by releasing the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and acetylcholine

Question 18

Norepinephrine

Answer 18

a neurotransmitter that is associated with a high arousal state

Question 19

Dopamine

Answer 19

• converted into norepinephrine
• causes euphoria

Question 20

Parkinson’s disease is due to

Answer 20

the loss of dopamine neurons

Question 21

Acetylcholine

Answer 21

increased acetylcholine will promote wakefulness and attention

Question 22

Alzheimer’s dementia is caused by

Answer 22

death of acetylcholine neurons

Question 23

Histamine

Answer 23

• are active when the brain is awake and inactive during sleep

Question 24

Orexin

Answer 24

neurotransmitter produced in the hypothalamus
- is released with the brain senses low blood sugar due to fasting