PS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Stimulant Psychosis, Psychedelic Drug, Drug Tolerance
Document Summary
Drugs and consciousness: psychoactive drugs pervasive part of society, modify brain chemistry cross blood-brain barrier, facilitate or inhibit synaptic transmission. How do drugs work in the brain: agonists drugs that increase neurotransmitter activity, antagonists drugs that inhibit or decrease neurotransmitter. Types of drugs: depressants, decrease nervous system activity, moderate doses, reduced anxiety; produce euphoria, high doses, slow vital life processes, can be fatal, alcohol. Increases activity of gaba (inhibitory neurotransmitter anxiety reduction: depressant, decreases activity of glutamate (major excitatory neurotransmitter, combination creates high & then down phase, stimulants. Increase neural firing & arouse nervous system: pattern: big high, big low. Increase blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, alertness: everyday: caffeine, blocks adenosine (indicates when sleepy, addictive/withdrawal, examples, cocaine. Increase activity of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine by blocking reuptake: chronic use cognitive impairment, brain damage, amphetamines. Meditation: novices brain activity like early sleep, experience active/alert, promotes relaxation, can be focused, mindfulness think about thoughts, feelings, detached, no judgement.
