Drugs for Attention Flashcards
Which parts of brain determine arousal?
Reticular formation
Thalamus
Cerebral cortex
Reticular activating system (RAS)
Sets arousal by releasing the neurotransmitter norepinephrine and acetylcholine to the thalamus and cortex.
Located in the midbrain and the pons.
Pons
Produces acetylcholine and serotonin
The importance of vigilance for cognition
Speed, accuracy, creativity, short-term, and long-term memory.
Cognition contributes to attention
Norepinephrine (alertness)
Higher arousal state
Increased attention and focus, fear and anxiety
What are the receptors for Norepinephrine?
G-protein coupled receptors (adrenergic receptors)
Dopamine (movement)
Facilitates movement
Some dopamine neurons will make a neuron more likely to fire, and others make the neuron less likely to fire or to release neurotransmitter.
What are the receptors for Dopamine?
GPCR (G-Protein Coupled Receptors) also known as Dopamine Receptors
Acetylcholine
Promotes wakefulness and attention
Associated with learning and memory
It has both excitatory and inhibitory neuron affect
What are the receptors for Acetylcholine?
1) Nicotinic receptors
2) Muscarinic receptors
Nicotinic receptors
Sodium ion channels (excitatory), which allows sodium ions to rush in, and this excites the neuron.
Muscarinic receptors
Can increase or decrease neuron activity
Amphetamine and methylphenidate
Increase attention and vigilance
Increases the level of dopamine and norepinephrine
What are the similarities for Amphetamine and methylphenidate?
They both bind to dopamine transporter (DAT) and the norepinephrine transporter (NET).
DAT and NET are responsible for the clearance of dopamine and norepinephrine in the synapse.
What are the side effects of Amphetamine and methylphenidate?
Reduce appetite
Cause sleep difficulties
This is due to the increase of dopamine and norepinephrine
Methylphenidate
blocks the Dopamine transporter and the norepinephrine transporter, which causes accumulation of dopamine and norepinephrine in the synapse
Amphetamine
DAT and NET reverser, which causes the transporter to push dopamine and norepinephrine into the synapse
Psychostimulants
Drugs that promote wakefulness and attention. Increase motor activity.
Such as Caffeine
Simple Task vs. Difficult Task
Simple task: high performance & high arousal
Difficult task: low performance & high arousal
Caffeine
Blocks the adenosine receptor which prevents sleep
Not addictive, but can be dependent and tolerant.
Adverse effects of Caffeine
Dry mouth, agitation, heartburn, diarrhea, insomnia, racing heart
What are types of Psychostimulant drugs?
Cocaine, meth, amphetamine, methylphenidate, and modafinil.
They all block DAT and NET
What are the effects of psychostimulants?
wakefulness, euphoria, suppressed appetite, insomnia, agitation, paranoia, constipation, psychosis, dry mouth, etc.
ADD or ADHD
Difficulties with voluntary attention
Increases in involuntary attention (distraction) & impulsivity
Memory impairment
Hyperfocus
What do ADD/ADHD drugs do?
Increase the level of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
Either prevent the clearance of these neurotransmitters or they cause them to be reverse-transported into the synapse.
What are the targets (proteins) for methylphenidate and amphetamine?
Dopamine Transporter (DAT)
Norepinephrine Transporter (NET)
Does methylphenidate act more like cocaine or like methamphetamine? (In terms of how it increases DA and NE).
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) acts more like cocaine than methamphetamine.
It blocks the DAT and NET, preventing reuptake.
It doesn’t reverse-transport, the way that methamphetamine (and amphetamine) do
How can drugs be formulated to reduce their addictive properties?
Slow release formulation
Don’t smoke it. Smoking the drug releases to the brian much faster.
What are the adverse effects (side effects) of amphetamine and methylphenidate?
Headache, dizziness, insomnia, appetite suppression, dry mouth, increased heart rate, muscle tremor, agitation.
Modafinil increases which neurotransmitters in the brain to promote wakefulness
Norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine (also serotonin and orexin)
Narcolepsy
A sleeping disorder where the normal switch between sleep and wakefulness is not maintained.
Extreme sleepiness during the day
Some muscle paralysis
Night terrors and disrupted sleep
