Week7 Flashcards
What are the aims of the lecture on psychopharmacology?
Describe effects of psychoactive drugs on brain, body, and behavior; understand pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics; relate behavioral effects to mechanisms of action; explain individual variations in drug responses.
What type of drug is alcohol categorized as?
Depressant
How does alcohol affect GABA transmission?
Enhances GABA transmission by binding to GABAA receptor
What is the role of alcohol as an allosteric modulator?
Increases flow of Cl– ions through the ion channel
Which receptor does alcohol inhibit?
NMDA (glutamate) receptor
What are some long-term effects of consuming alcohol?
General health issues, liver cirrhosis, cancer, fetal alcohol syndrome, Korsakoff’s syndrome, withdrawals, anxiety, tremor, seizures.
What is the primary action of cocaine in the brain?
Blocks dopamine transporter
What are chronic physical effects of cocaine use?
Cardiovascular damage, lung congestion, damage to nasal membrane, psychosis, formication.
What are the initial effects of amphetamines?
Euphoria, feeling of well-being, decreased tiredness.
What neurotransmitters do amphetamines primarily affect?
Dopamine and noradrenaline
What is nicotine classified as?
Direct agonist
What receptors does nicotine stimulate?
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)
What are the acute effects of caffeine?
Alertness, decreased fatigue, improved coordination
How does caffeine affect adenosine receptors?
Direct antagonist
What is the mechanism of action of opiates?
Bind to opioid receptors
What is the main active ingredient in cannabis?
Delta 9-THC
What type of receptors do cannabinoids like THC bind to?
CB1 and CB2 receptors
What factors contribute to individual differences in drug effects?
Experience, context, history, body size, age, health, sex, ethnicity/race
What is biotransformation of alcohol primarily mediated by?
Alcohol dehydrogenase
Fill in the blank: Alcohol is converted into the metabolite _______.
acetaldehyde
What factor can affect the absorption of alcohol?
Presence of food in the stomach
True or False: Women generally have higher plasma volume than men.
False
What is metabolic tolerance?
The drug is metabolized faster with repeated use
What is the opposite of tolerance in drug response?
Sensation
How can expectancies affect drug responses?
Expectations can alter how a person thinks they will respond compared to actual response.
What is a placebo effect?
A drug that lacks intrinsic pharmacological activity but can produce effects indistinguishable from a real drug.
