Recreational Drugs (agg) Flashcards
What are recreational drugs?
Substances used in a non therapeutic manner for their effects on motor, sensory, emotional, or cognitive activities
What is the main structure in the reward system related to recreational drug use?
The mesolimbic dopamine pathway
What happens when the mesolimbic dopamine pathway is activated?
Dopamine levels rise in the nucleus accumbens
Where does the mesocortical pathway originate and where does it travel?
Originates in the ventral tegmental area and travels to the cerebral cortex
How does cocaine affect dopamine levels?
Blocks the binding site of receptors, preventing uptake of dopamine and creating an excess in the synapse
What is the initial effect of cocaine on the brain?
Overstimulation gives the initial euphoria
What occurs during withdrawal from cocaine?
Depression
What research methods strengthen the evaluation of recreational drugs and aggression?
Brain scans such as PET and fMRI
What is a weakness in establishing a link between drug use and aggressive behavior?
Only a correlation is inferred; a cause and effect cannot be established
How do amphetamines affect dopamine levels?
Imitate dopamine by diffusing into the terminal button and forcing dopamine out of vesicles
What additional effect do amphetamines have on norepinephrine?
Increases action by producing an adrenaline rush
What effect do amphetamines have on glutamate?
Reduces the inhibitory effect, regulating dopamine levels
What is a weakness of the reductionist perspective on drug effects?
Ignores the complexity of brain functioning and social factors influencing aggression
What application of drug research supports the learning approach?
Development of drugs like naloxone to help heroin withdrawal
What does naloxone do?
Blocks opiate receptors and prevents heroin from occupying them
What alternative explanation is provided for aggressive behavior?
Social learning theory
Who conducted research on aggressive behavior and role models?
Bandura
Fill in the blank: The brain relies on cocaine to maintain a high degree of pleasure associated with artificially elevated levels of _______.
dopamine
True or False: The effects of recreational drugs on aggression can be fully understood without considering social factors.
False
