W7

Question 1

what are the effects of alcohol on the brain?

Answer 1

• it enhances GABA transmission by binding to the GABA receptor as an allosteric modulator and increases the flow of Cl anions
• inhibits NMDA receptor
• can increase mesolimbic dopamine transmission via action at cannabinoid receptors

Question 2

LT effects of consuming alcohol?

Answer 2

health issues - liver cirrhosis, cancer, fetal alcohol syndrome

brain effects - korsakoffs syndrome, withrawal, brain adapts - rebound hyperexcitability, anxiety, tremor, seizures

Question 3

effects of cocaine on the brain?

Answer 3

• blocks dopamine transporter
• reduces reuptake of dopamine into the neuron
• prolongs duration that dopamine remains in the synapse
• indirect agonist

Question 4

effects of consuming cocaine?

Answer 4

• cardiovascular damage
• smoke = lung congestion
• snort = damaged nasal membranes
• psychosis
• formication

Question 5

what are amphetamines?

Answer 5

• synthestic stimulants - d-amphetamine, methamphetamine

Question 6

effects of amphetamines on the brain?

Answer 6

• blocks dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake
• stimulates the release of dopamine and noradrenaline
• double increase NT

Question 7

effects of amphetamine consumption?

Answer 7

• euphoria, feel good, less tired
• irritability
• paranoid
• tremors
• psychosis from LT use

Question 8

mechanism of caffeine?

Answer 8

• direct antagonist

adenosine receptors inhibit activation of dopamine receptors and caffeine reduces this inhibition = increase dop signalling = is a stimulant through being an antagonist

Question 9

natural opioids?

Answer 9

morphine and codeine

Question 10

synthetic opioids?

Answer 10

heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone

Question 11

what opiate is having an effect on the brain

Answer 11

morphine has the biological effect on the brain - heroin is metabolised into morphine

Question 12

cannabis mechanism?

Answer 12

• THC is metabolised and eliminated in urine
• direct agonist
• cannabinoid receptors
• main ingredience is cannabinoid Delta 9-THC

Question 13

Opioid drug effects on the brain (describe full process)

Answer 13

opioids bind to mu opioid receptors and inhibit activity of the GABA neuron this then inhibits the activity of the GABA neuron from inhibiting activity of the DA neuron (dopmine) and therefore releases dopamine in the nuccleus accumbens

Question 14

what are different factors which contribute to differences in drug effects between people?

Answer 14

1. body size
2. age - affects metabolism and excretion as organ function decreases with age
3. health
4. sex
5. ethinicity/race

Question 15

what is the biotransformation of alcohol?

Answer 15

1. alcohol metabolised by enzyme - alcohol dehydrogenase which converts alcohol into metabolite acertaldehyde
2. another enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase converts acetaldehyde to acetic acid

Question 16

what is metabolic tolerance?

Answer 16

drug gets metabolized faster with repeat use

Question 17

what is cellular tolerance?

Answer 17

neurons adjust their functioning to compensate for the action of the drug on the cell eg change in number of receptors

Question 18

whats sensitisation?

Answer 18

need lower dose to achieve same effect. can occur for stimulant drugs - opposite to tolerance