UDA: Chapter 2: Neurochemistry and Physiology of Addiction Flashcards
Alveoli
Air sacs in the lungs that absorb oxygen or drugs into the blood
IV drug use
Injecting a drug into a vein
Mucous membranes
Tissues lining the nose, gums, cheeks, where drugs can be absorbed
Insufflation
Snorting a drug through the nose to be absorbed by mucous membranes
Sublingual use
Putting a drug under the tongue so it will be absorbed by mucous membranes
Capillaries
Tiny blood vessels lining the intestinal walls and mucous membranes that can absorb drugs
Contact absorption
Drug absorption through the skin
Drug distribution
The process of getting a drug from its site of absorption to the rest of the body
Blood-brain barrier
A barrier in the brain that allows only certain substances to penetrate
Central nervous system (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord that contains 100 billion nerve cells and 100 trillion connections
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
A network of nerve cells that connect the central nervous system with its internal and external environments. It is divided into the autonomic and somatic systems.
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous that controls involuntary internal functions such as circulation
Somatic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory information to the skin, muscles, and joints.
Evolutionary perspective
A theory that looks at physiological changes in the brain as survival adaptations
Old brain
Part of the brain in all animals that experiences basic emotions and craving and imprints survival memories
New brain
The neocortex or outer brain that allows us to speak, reason, create, and remember.
Reward/control pathway
Part of the old brain that encourages a human being to remember and repeat an action that promotes survival.
Mesolimbic dopaminergic reward pathway
Another name for the reward/reinforcement center.
Nucleus Accumbens
Part of the reward reinforcement center that is a powerful reinforcer.
Satiation center
The part of the brain that tells us when we are satisfied.
Imprinting
The neural process of writing an emotional memory of euphoria or pain relief on the brain.
On/off switches
Parts of the brain that trigger craving and stop craving.
Satiation point
The level of satisfaction that stops craving.
Nerve cells (neurons)
Building blocks of the nervous system, each containing four essential parts: dendrites, the cell body, the axon, and terminals.
Synaptic gap
The space between the terminal of one cell and the adjoining cell.
Neurotransmitters
Microscopic bits of messenger chemicals that transmit messages from one cell to another.
Vesicles
Storage sacs in nerve cells that hold neurotransmitters.
Endorphins/enkephalins
Pain control neurotransmitters developed inside the body.
Norepinephrine/epinephrine
Neurotransmitters that provide energy for the body.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter that stimulates the reward/reinforcement center.
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that helps control mood stability including depression and anxiety.
GABA
An inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in 25-40% of all synapses in the brain.
Anandamide
A neurotransmitter that has an affinity for receptor sites that accommodates the THC in marijuana.
Receptor
A cellular mechanism on a nerve cell that is designed to receive a compatible neurotransmitter.
Reuptake ports
Mechanisms on the tips of neurons that reabsorb neurotransmitters.
Agonists
Psychoactive drugs that mimic or facilitate the effects of neurotransmitters.
Antagonists
Psychoactive drugs that block neurotransmitters.
Tolerance
The adaptation of the body to accommodate larger and larger abominates of a drug.
Tissue dependence
Biological changes in the body due to prolonged use of drugs.
Psychological dependence
The formation of thoughts and emotions that create a mental dependence on a drug.
Withdrawal
The body’s attempt to rebalance itself after cessation of prolonged use of a psychoactive drug.
Metabolism
The body’s mechanism for processing, using, and inactivating a drug or food in the body.
Excretion
The process of eliminating drugs and their metabolites from the body.
Liver
The key metabolic organ that breaks down and processes the chemical structure of drugs.
Kidneys
The key excretory organs that filter waste from the blood into the urine.
Abstinence
Avoiding any use of a psychoactive drug.
Experimentation
Occasional use of a drug to satisfy curiosity only limited negative consequences.
Social/recreational
A level of drug use where the person seeks and uses a known drug but there is no established pattern.
Habituation
A definite pattern of drug use with few negative consequences.
Drug abuse
The continued use of a drug despite negative consequences.
Addiction
Loss of control over drug use and continued use despite negative consequences.
Substance-related disorders
A category of mental illnesses that includes substance use disorders and substance-induced disorders.
Substance use disorders
Patterns of drug use especially substance dependence and substance abuse.
Substance-induced disorders
Conditions caused by use of specific drugs: intoxication, withdrawal, and certain mental disorders.
Addictive disease model
This medical model maintains that addiction is most influenced by heredity.
Behavior/environmental model
The model says that environmental factors can change brain chemistry.
Academic model
In this model, addiction occurs when the body adapts to the toxic effects of drugs at the biochemical level.
Diathesis-stress theory of addiction
This theory says the genetic and environmental predisposition to substance abuse aggravated by drug use can cause addiction.
Heredity
The process whereby physical and behavioral traits are passed by genes from one generation to another.
Twin studies
The use of identical twins raised in the same or in different environments to study the influence of heredity on addiction.
DRD2A1, Allele gene
The first gene discovered that signals a tendency to alcoholism (and other addictions)
Environmental influences
Factors that foster addiction including abuse, stress, family relationships, and peer pressure.
SPECT scan
Single photon emission computerized tomography scan.
PET scan
Positron emission tomography scan.
CAT scan
Computerized axial tomography x-ray scan.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging scan.
