PSYC 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Somnolence, Muscle Tone, Barbiturate
Document Summary
Altered states: drugs: psychoactive drugs, substances that contain chemicals similar to those naturally present in brain, alter consciousness by changing the chemical processes in neurons, impact perceptions, mood, other aspects of consciousness, rx, illicit, or (cid:498)natural(cid:499, ex. Heroin, cocaine, nicotine, caffeine: can become tolerant, go through withdrawal, dependence, withdrawal. Increases aggression: nausea, headache, dehydration, tremors, seizures, sedative-hypnotics, depress central nervous system activity, often prescribed for anxiety or insomnia (cid:498)tranquilizers(cid:499, barbiturates (seconal, non-barbiturates, quickly increasing tolerance, potentially lethal with alcohol. Impaired concentration: withdrawal greatly increased anxiety, agitation, paranoia, convulsions, stimulants. Intensify neural activity and bodily functions: prescriptions and non prescriptions, caffeine. Increases energy: delays sleep, helps concentration, but withdrawal = headaches, fatigue, irritability, nicotine. Increases release of or sensitivity to acetylcholine, dopamine, gaba, endorphins: enhances positive emotions, minimizes distress. Increases alertness: meth/amphetamines energy, ritalin, adderall, some therapeutic uses, triggers sustained release of dopamine euphoria, withdrawal irritability, insomnia, depression, quick tolerance, agitation, cocaine.
