PSYC 181 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Designer Drug, Safrole, Anorectic
Document Summary
Involved in addiction, goes through limbic system: the are other pathways that do different things (ex- milk production) Serotonin- made from tryptophan: does matter how much tryptophan there is, makes same amount of serotonin, can be converted to other neurotransmitters too, breakdown is similar to dopamine, but has different receptors. Primary site of action for psychostimulants is monoamine transporters: acts on da, ne, and 5-ht transporters, cocaine and amphetamine have different actions on monoamine transporters. Cocaine- blocks transporter which prevents reuptake of dopamine. Normal release of dopamine, but stays longer in synapse requires calcium (action potentials are required for dopamine to be released) results in decrease in brain blood flow. Mostly acts in basal ganglia, nucleus accumbens increased dopamine uptake continues after high ends (same with other drugs that affect psychological functioning: feel normal (think you"re sober) even though drug is still in system. How fast drug acts affects how high you feel (smoked (fastest) > intravenous > snorted).
