The Effects Of Drugs On The Neurotransmission Process. Flashcards
What was pcp?
-Aka angel dust.
-Was organically used as an anaesthetic but stopped as people experienced psychotic reactions.
-Has an impact on the brain within 5 mins.
-dissociative anaesthetic.
What neurotransmitters are affected by pcp?
Dopamine, serotonin,glutamine, norepinephrine, opioids
What specific type of receptor does PCP block, and what is its role in normal brain functioning?
Blocks glutamate receptors called NMDA receptors, which play a crucial role in normal brain functioning and in transmitting signals within the CNS.
-Disrupts cognition, perceptions and emotional processing
What does a low dosage of pcp do?
Euphoria,blurred vision,relaxation,anxiety,numbness.
What does a medium dosage of pcp do?
Confusion,analgesia,paranoia,excessive salvation.
What does a high dosage of pcp do?
Seizures,fever,stroke,possible death.
How does cocaine function and affect the dopamine neurotransmitter?
-dopamine is released into the synapse, binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, and is then reabsorbed by the transporters in the presynaptic neuron.
-cocaine blocks these transporters leaving dopamine trapped in the synaptic cleft. Dopamine binds again and again in the receptors overstimulating the cell.
-cocaine concentrates in the reward pathway.
It’s also active in the part of the brain controlling voluntary movements
How does cocaine impact the reward system?
The dependency on cocaine is closely linked to how it disrupts normal dopamine signalling in this circuit, which controls feelings of pleasure and reinforcement.
The brain craves the heightened dopamine response cocaine induces, leading to compulsive use despite negative consequences.
Withdrawal systems with cocaine.
-When someone stops using cocaine, dopamine levels return to normal.
-Because there are fewer dopamine receptors, the brains sensitivity to dopamine is reduced,
The person experiences low dopamine activity, leading to symptoms like depression and cravings because the brain is now dependent on the elevated dopamine levels induced by cocaine.
Desensitisation and addiction with cocaine.
-As the brain becomes desensitized to dopamine, more cocaine is needed to achieve the same pleasurable affects, leading to tolerance and escalating use.
-This forms the basis of addiction: the brain requires higher mounts of the drug to compensate for the reduced dopamine receptor activity.
Overstimulation and damage to dopamine receptors due to cocaine.
Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, causing an excess of dopamine in the synapse.
This overstimulates the dopamine receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
Overtime it can become damaged due to the continuous overstimulation.
The neuron responds by reducing the number of dopamine receptors to protect itself from excess dopamine.
With fewer receptors available, the postsynaptic neuron becomes less sensitive to dopamine (desensitisation)
Why might PCP have impacts on behaviour?
PCP affects multiple neurotransmitters, each of which influences different aspects of behaviour so the combined effects can vary greatly depending on how these neurotransmitters interact.
What is the reward pathway in the brain, which system is it part of?
Mesolimbic system- system in the brain that reinforces rewarding behaviours
