How do drugs and hormones influence the brain and behavior? Flashcards
alcohol myopia
‘Nearsighted’ behavior displayed under the influence of alcohol: local and immediate cues become prominent, and remote cues and consequences are ignored.
antianxiety agent
Drug that reduces anxiety; examples are minor tranquillizers such as benzodiazepines and sedative-hypnotic agents.
monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor
Antidepressant drug that blocks the enzyme monoamine oxidase from degrading neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin.
cross-tolerance
Reduction of response to a novel drug because of tolerance developed in response to a chemically related drug.
wanting-and-liking theory
When a drug is associated with certain cues, the cues themselves elicit desire for the drug; also called incentive-sensitization theory.
withdrawal symptom
Physical and psychological behavior displayed by an addict when drug use ends.
peptide hormone
Chemical messenger synthesized by cellular DNA that acts to affect the target cell’s physiology.
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Developmental disorder characterized by core behavioral symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and/or inattention.
barbiturate
Drug that produces sedation and sleep.
competitive inhibitor
Drug such as nalorphine and naloxone that acts quickly to block the actions of opioids by competing with them for binding sites; used to treat opioid addiction.
mood stabilizer
Drug for treatment of bipolar disorder that mutes the intensity of one pole of the disorder, thus making the other pole less likely to recur.
antagonist
Substance that blocks the function of a synapse.
endorphin
Peptide hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter and may be associated with feelings of pain or pleasure; mimicked by opioid drugs such as morphine, heroin, opium, and codeine.
testosterone
Sex hormone secreted by the testes and responsible for the distinguishing characteristics of the male.
disinhibition theory
Explanation holding that alcohol has a selective depressant effect on the cortex, the region of the brain that controls judgment, while sparing subcortical structures responsible for more primitive instincts, such as desire.
bipolar disorder
Mood disorder characterized by periods of depression alternating with normal periods and periods of intense excitation, or mania.
fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
Range of physical and intellectual impairments observed in some children born to alcoholic mothers.
psychoactive drug
Substance that acts to alter mood, thought, or behavior; is used to manage neuropsychological illness; or is abused.
dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia
Idea that excess activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine causes symptoms of schizophrenia.
opioid analgesic
Drug like morphine, with sleep-inducing (narcotic) and pain-relieving (analgesic) properties; originally narcotic analgesic.
addiction
Desire for a drug manifested by frequent use of the drug, leading to the development of physical dependence in addition to abuse; often associated with tolerance and unpleasant, sometimes dangerous, withdrawal symptoms on cessation of drug use. Also called substance dependence.
second-generation antidepressant
Drug whose action is similar to that of tricyclics (first-generation antidepressants) but more selective in its action on the serotonin reuptake transporter proteins; also called atypical antidepressant.
substance abuse
Use of a drug for the psychological and behavioral changes it produces aside from its therapeutic effects.
agonist
Substance that enhances the function of a synapse.
glucocorticoid
One of a group of steroid hormones, such as cortisol, secreted in times of stress; important in protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
major depression
Mood disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of worthlessness and guilt, the disruption of normal eating habits, sleep disturbances, a general slowing of behavior, and frequent thoughts of suicide.
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Tricyclic antidepressant drug that blocks the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic terminal.
anabolic steroid
Belongs to a class of synthetic hormones related to testosterone that have both muscle-building (anabolic) and masculinizing (androgenic) effects; also called anabolic-androgenic steroid.
psychomotor activation
Increased behavioral and cognitive activity; at certain levels of consumption, the drug user feels energetic and in control.
gonadal (sex) hormone
One of a group of hormones, such as testosterone, that control reproductive functions and bestow sexual appearance and identity as male or female.
tricyclic antidepressant
First-generation antidepressant drug with a chemical structure characterized by three rings that blocks serotonin reuptake transporter proteins.
tolerance
Decrease in response to a drug with the passage of time.
psychedelic drug
Drug that can alter sensation and perception; examples are lysergic acid dielthylmide, mescaline, and psilocybin.
amphetamine
Drug that releases the neurotransmitter dopamine into its synapse and, like cocaine, blocks dopamine reuptake.
homeostatic hormone
One of a group of hormones that maintain internal metabolic balance and regulate physiological systems in an organism.
psychopharmacology
Study of how drugs affect the nervous system and behavior.
organizational hypothesis
Proposal that actions of hormones in development alter tissue differentiation; for example, testosterone masculinizes the brain.
steroid hormone
Fat-soluble chemical messenger synthesized from cholesterol.
