NEUR 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Cannabinoid Receptor, Dopamine Agonist, Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
8 Apr 2016
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How do drugs and hormones inluence the brain and behavior: psychotropic. Behavioral simulants: increase motor behavior and elevate a person"s mood and level of alertness. Cocaine: obtained from the leaves of the coca plant, addicive, blocks dopamine reuptake, derivaives such as novocaine are used as local anestheics. Amphetamine: dopamine agonist: blocks the reuptake of dopamine and simulates release of dopamine from presynapic membrane. Some uses: iniially an asthma treatment, weight-loss aid, improvement of alertness and producivity (adhd meds, e. g. , ritalin) General simulants: drugs that cause a general increase in the metabolic acivity of cells. Cafeine: blocks adenosine receptor (antagonist); afects intracellular signaling cascades to increase glucose producion (more energy) Nicoine: low doses simulate, high doses block, nicoinic receptors (acetylcholine, indirectly acivates sympatheic nervous system. Psychedelic drugs: alter sensory percepion and cogniive processes and can produce hallucinaions, e. g. , mescaline, lsd, psilocybin. Works by acivaing an endogenous cannabinoid system in the brain (binds to a cannabinoid receptor)
