Recreational Drugs

Question 1

Identify 2 drugs that can affect the transmission process.

Answer 1

Cocaine and Heroin

Question 2

Describe the effects cocaine has on the body.

Answer 2

Stimulant effect: feelings of euphoria and pleasure.

Question 3

How does cocaine affect neurotransmitters and synaptic transmission?

Answer 3

It alters synaptic transmission by blocking the reuptake of dopamine. The synapse is then flooded with dopamine.

Question 4

What are the long-term effects of cocaine?

Answer 4

Dopamine receptors will become downregulated, meaning fewer receptors are active and the quantity of dopamine declines (explaining withdrawal).

Question 5

Describe the effects of heroin on the body.

Answer 5

Depressant effects on the CNS, slowing down its activity (including pain).

Question 6

How does heroin affect neurotransmitters and synaptic transmission?

Answer 6

Once heroin reaches the brain it becomes morphine which binds with the natural opioid system to enhance the natural response.

Question 7

Define agonist.

Answer 7

A drug that mimics the action of another natural biochemical.

Question 8

Define antagonist.

Answer 8

An antagonist drug binds to receptors in the brain and prevents an agonist from having a reaction.

Question 9

What are the long-term effects of heroin?

Answer 9

Regular use of heroin over time means opioid receptors on post-synaptic neurons are desensitised, creating tolerance.

Question 10

What is the supporting evidence of the effect of recreational drugs?

Answer 10

Olds + Milner
Mice endured pain in order to receive stimulation in the reward pathway. This demonstrates the idea of a reward pathway in the brain that overrides the effect of pain for pleasure.

Question 11

What is the different theory of the effect of recreational drugs?

Answer 11

Jones and Stones
Gave regular cannabis users marijuana or a placebo and found there was no difference in effect.
= Not only biological factor that affects neurotransmission.

Question 12

What is the opposing evidence of the effect of recreational drugs?

Answer 12

Studies that support the effect of recreational drugs are mainly animal studies, which lack generalizability as their brains are qualitatively different to ours.