PSYCH 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Stimulant Psychosis, Methamphetamine, Reuptake
9 Sep 2016
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Psych 1101 lecture 7 the brain (part iii): structure and function. Neurotransmitters: chemical messengers that activate certain neurons, stored in vesicles, starts with some form of stimuli. A few kinds of neurotransmitters: serotonin. Plays an important role in regulating mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, and appetite. Increase amount of serotonin in brain: improve mood, norepinephrine. Plays a major role in alertness and wakefulness. Anti-depressants also work on this chemical: gaba (gamma-aminobutyric acid) Alcohol and benzodiazepines work in part by acting on this chemical. Relief from pain or stress of vigorous exercise and produce feelings of pleasure and well-being. Painkillers mimic endorphins: drugs tweak and mimic neurotransmitter activity, the effect of drugs vary person to person (idiosyncratic, trial and error) Need to know how to directly affect specific networks. How drugs affect neurotransmitters: many drugs act by influencing the action of neurotransmitters in a number of ways (as agonists and antagonists) Influence the chemical precursors of a transmitter substance.
