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Biological Psychology > Stimulants and Alcohol > Flashcards

Stimulants and Alcohol Flashcards

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1
Q

How to take cocaine

A

Typically snorted in powder form or smoked in its free-base form (crack)

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2
Q

Cocaine in blood and half life

A

Reaches peak in blood at 30-60 minutes
Easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier
Biological Half Life: 30-90 minutes

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3
Q

Cocaine Short Term Effects

A
  1. Euphoria
  2. Energy
  3. Confidence
  4. Talkativeness
  5. Activity
  6. Alertness
  7. Attention
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4
Q

Neurons with cocaine

A

Cocaine acts on mono-aminergic synapses in the brain (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenalin)
Cocaine blocks the reuptake channel of the mono-aminergic synapses, making the synapse effect stronger.
Also associated with the wake side of the sleep wake cycle - why people on cocaine can’t sleep.

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5
Q

Cocaine Long Term Effects - Depression

A

Lack of reuptake results in depletion of monoamines (serotonin, noradrenaline etc) so there is a depression crash that is remedied by taking more cocaine

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6
Q

Nasal Septum vs Cocaine

A

This is because of vasoconstriction.

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7
Q

Cocaine Long Term Effects - Schizophrenic-like symptoms

A

Hallucinations
Delusions of persecution
Mood disturbances
Repetitive Behaviours

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8
Q

More Cocaine Long Term Effects

A

Sexual dysfunction
Tolerance for some of the ‘desired’ effects, such as euphoria and confidence
Sensitisation or other effects, such as convulsiveness, stereotyped behaviour, addictiveness

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9
Q

Cocaine Addictiveness

A

Direct effect on dopamine released in the nucleus accembens and prefrontal cortex
Direct activation of the ‘seeking’ or ‘reward’ pathway
Strong psychological addictiveness, much less physical addictiveness

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10
Q

Types of amphetamines

A

Speed - taken orally
Crystal Meth - smoked
Ecstacy - taken orally
Mephedrone/Methadrone/Methylone - snorted or orally

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11
Q

Amphetamines half life and blood-brain barrier

A

Uptake speed and half-life depend on the drug and method of taking it
All cross through blood-brain barrier with ease

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12
Q

Amphetamines short term effects

A
  1. Euphoria
  2. Energy
  3. Confidence
  4. Talkativeness
  5. Activity
  6. Alertness
  7. Attention
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13
Q

Ecstacy short term effects

A

Increased confidence and feelings of energy lead to an increase in dehydration, exhaustion, muscle breakdown, overheating and convulsions

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14
Q

Amphetamines long term effects

A

Similar to cocaine: hallucinations, delusions of persecution, mood disturbances, repetitive behaviour.
You also get a tolerance to some effects and a sensitisation to others
Extended use can kill dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in the brain

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15
Q

Amphetamines addictiveness

A

Like cocaine there is strong potential for psychological addiction but not much for physical addiction

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16
Q

How does Ritalin work?

A

Acts similarly to cocaine by blocking the monoamine reuptake transporter. The release is much more gradual and does not have the immediate effects cocaine does.

17
Q

Caffeine

A

Typically ingested in coffee or soft drinks
Concentration peaks after 40 minutes
Easily passes through blood-brain barrier
Half life of 3.5-5 hours and even longer in children
Lethal dose is 100 cups of coffee/10g of caffeine

18
Q

Caffeine’s Short Term Effects

A 
Increases alertness and wakefulness
Induces clear thinking
Induces restlessness
Difficulty with fine movements
Increases cardiac contractions
Constricts blood vessels
19
Q

Caffeine Side Effects

A

Anxiety
Insomnia
Change in mood
Hypertension

20
Q

How does caffeine work?

A

Blocks adenosine receptors
Adenosine is involved in inducing sleep and vasodilation
Stimulates adrenaline release from adrenal medulla

21
Q

Caffeine long term effects

A

Mostly sleep deprivation (especially slow wave sleep), can be countered with more caffeine.

22
Q

Caffeine Addictiveness

A

Clear physical dependence with withdrawal symptoms including headaches, sleepiness, irritability and difficulty concentrating
Psychological dependence: increases dopamine in nucleus accumbens

23
Q

How to take nicotine

A

Usually smoked but sometimes chewed

24
Q

Nicotine vs blood-brain barrier

A

Within 7 seconds of the puff, 25% of the nicotine in the smoke has already crossed the blood-brain barrier

25
Q

Nicotine half-life

A

2 hours in the chronic smoker

26
Q

Nicotine short-term effects

A

Induces vomiting
Reduces muscle tone (relaxes)
Reduces weight gain
Increases heart rate and blood pressure

27
Q

How does nicotine work?

A

Binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found in the brain. These receptors are involved in stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, including the release of adrenaline from the adrenal gland.

28
Q

Nicotine long term effects

A

Body easily builds tolerance and possibly wears out the heart quicker.
Major problems associated with tobacco and smoke that can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and more

29
Q

Nicotine Addictiveness

A

Withdrawal symptoms include craving, irritability, increased appetite and insomnia.
Could be the most addictive drug psychologically

30
Q

How is alcohol taken?

A

Usually ingested, easily crosses the blood brain-barrier and reached max blood concentration in 30-90 minutes.
Mostly eliminated through the liver, which breaks it down at a steady rate

31
Q

Alcohol short term effects - low dose

A

In a low dose there’s mild euphoria and it lowers anxiety

Also produces dilated blood vessels and more urination

32
Q

Alcohol short term effects - intoxication

A 
Slower reflexes
Incoordination
Sedation
Memory problems
Dilated blood vessels
More urination
33
Q

Alcohol physiological action

A

Agonist of GABA-A receptors and antagonists of NMDA receptors.

34
Q

Alcohol long term effects

A

Cirrhosis of the liver which leads to liver failure
Brain damage (especially in the hippocampus with Korsakoff’s syndrome)
Foetal alcohol syndrome

35
Q

Physical dependence to alcohol

A

Tolerance builds up from first night drinking.
Withdrawal takes place in hangover
After chronic use there can be very strong withdrawal symptoms (Delirium Tremens) which can be fatal

36
Q

Psychological dependence on alcohol

A

Increases dopamine release in the n Accumbens (as do other NMDA receptor antagonists)
Strong heritable component to alcoholism

Biological Psychology (7 decks)

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