Neurobiology of Substance Abuse

Question 1

3 Structures of the Nervous System

Answer 1

1. brain
2. spinal cord
3. peripheral nerves

Question 2

3 Stages of Brain Stimulus and Response

Answer 2

1. sensory reception
2. interconnection
3. motor response

Question 3

CNS

Answer 3

Central Nervous System, brain + spinal cord

Question 4

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 4

Nerves that branch out from the CNS and connect the system to other body parts, including hands and feet

Question 5

Somatic system

Answer 5

Cranial and spinal nerves, which connect the CNS to the skin and skeletal muscles

Question 6

Autonomic System

Answer 6

Nerves that connect the CNS to organs like heart, stomach, intestines, glands, etc.

Question 7

Sympathetic Division of Autonomic System

Answer 7

Prepares body for activities that expend energy

Question 8

Parasympathetic Division of the Autonomic System

Answer 8

Aids body in returning to normal after period of expending energy.

Question 9

Neuron

Answer 9

Basic unit of the nervous system. Capable of receiving stimuli and transmitting electrical messages.

Question 10

Dendrites

Answer 10

Fibers that send nerve impulses toward the cell body.

Question 11

Axon

Answer 11

Carry impulses away from the cell body

Question 12

Synapses

Answer 12

Delivers neurotransmitters from neuron to neuron

Question 13

Synaptic cleft

Answer 13

Gap filled with fat that acts as an insulator between cells.
Depressants: thicken medium and slow down transmission.
Stimulants: thin the medium, causing more rapid transmission of chemicals.

Question 14

Blood-brain barrier

Answer 14

Microvascular endothelial cells protect the brain by forming a blood-brain barrier. These cells are tightly wound and prevent many substances from leaving the blood and reaching the brain.
-Small or fat soluble substances, like drugs, pass through.

Question 15

Metabolism

Answer 15

The process through which a substance is eliminated from the body.

Question 16

Acetylcholine

Answer 16

Memory, attention, and mood

Question 17

Norepinephrine

Answer 17

Movement and pleasure

Question 18

Serotonin

Answer 18

Sensory perception, sleep, sex, and body temperature

Question 19

Gamma Aminobutyric (GABA)

Answer 19

Inhibitory NT, blocks transfer of a nerve impulse to adjoining neuron, slows neuronal activity

Question 20

Glycine

Answer 20

Inhibitory NT found in spinal cord

Question 21

Enkephalins and Endorphins

Answer 21

Regulates pain, pain-killing properties more powerful than morphine

Question 22

Dopamine

Answer 22

Movement, memory, concentration, pleasure

Question 23

Epinephrine

Answer 23

Fight or flight

Question 24

Glutamate

Answer 24

Memory, learning, cognition

Question 25

What does prevent reuptake mean?

Answer 25

When a NT is blocked from being absorbed by an appropriate synapse, thereby increasing NT’s concentration in brain.

Question 26

Agonist

Answer 26

When a substance causes receptors to react or activate

Question 27

Antagonist

Answer 27

Substances that block receptors from activating

Question 28

Amygdala

Answer 28

Responsible for emotion, motivation, and memory formation - particularly related to stress response.
-Go system. Keeps you alive from immediate threats.

Question 29

ARAS (Reticular Activating System)

Answer 29

Sleeping, walking, behavioral alerting. Depressants block activity, amphetamines increase activity. Responsible for individual’s state of arousal.

Question 30

Medulla Oblongata

Answer 30

Controls vital centers of the brain - breathing, blood pressure, heart rate.

Question 31

Pons

Answer 31

Relays impulses among cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord.

Question 32

Midbrain

Answer 32

Center which controls auditory reflect as well as head movement. Psychedelics create hallucinations.

Question 33

Cerebellum

Answer 33

Reflex center (skeletal muscle movements.)
-When depressed by psychoactive drugs there is a loss of muscle coordination and balance.

Question 34

Thalamus

Answer 34

Central relay station (incoming sensory impulses are channeled to cerebrum.) Are sensations pleasurable or painful?

Question 35

Hypothalamus

Answer 35

Homeostasis, controls heart rate, blood pressure, water, hunger, sexual behavior, regulates emotions
-Stress response

Question 36

Limbic System

Answer 36

Regulation of emotions.
-Tranquilizing drugs depress the limbic system, resulting in a calming effect.

Question 37

Cerebrum

Answer 37

Coordinates and interprets internal and external stimuli

Question 38

Frontal Lobes

Answer 38

In cerebrum, controls internal processes like concentration, planning, and problem solving

Question 39

Parietal Lobes

Answer 39

In cerebrum, sensory areas responsible for temp, touch, pressure, and skin pain

Question 40

Temporal lobes

Answer 40

Responsible for hearing

Question 41

Occipital lobes

Answer 41

Responsible for vision

Question 42

Basal ganglia

Answer 42

Motivation, movement, habits
-Controls psychoactive substance use’s pleasurable and rewarding effects
-Woohoo! System
Reinforces pleasurable experiences

Question 43

Prefrontal Cortex

Answer 43

Thinking, planning, problem solving, impulse control.
-STOP system.
Basal ganglia = woohoo system, amygdala = go system
prefrontal cortex = stop system

Question 44

Brain’s Communication Pathways

Answer 44

1. Neurons (uses synapses to send and receive messages)
2. Synapses (deliver NT to neurons)
3. Dendrites (receive synaptic input)
4. Axon (determines whether neuron will fire signal to release NT)
5. soma (cell body)

Question 45

Myelination

Answer 45

During adolescence, synaptic refinement that affects biopsychosocial development, which reduces gray matter and makes brain more efficient.

Question 46

What is the primary NT implicated in the development of SUD?

Answer 46

Dopamine

Question 47

Synaptic pruning

Answer 47

Reducing gray matter and making the brain more efficient during adolescence, occurs in the temporal cortex and subcortical structures.