Recreational Drugs Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the term ‘agonist’
A
- mimics the action of a naturally occurring neurotransmitter
- triggers normal cellular response
2
Q
Describe the term ‘antagonist’
A
- prevents the normal neurotransmitter from working
- transmission of nerve impulses are reduced or brought to a halt
3
Q
Some drugs act as inhibitors. What do they do?
A
- prevent the removal of a neurotransmitter from a synaptic cleft
4
Q
Give four effects as the result of recreational drugs
A
- mood
- cognitive thinking
- perception
- behaviour
5
Q
Define the term ‘drug desensitisation’
A
- results from repeated use of an agonist
- number of receptors are reduced as a result of overstimulation
- receptors become less sensitive to the agonist drug
6
Q
Define the term ‘drug sensitisation ‘
A
- repeated use of an antagonist drug
- more receptors are created in order to combat the under stimulation
