PSYA01H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5.3: Tegmentum, Reuptake, Psychological Dependence
Document Summary
Joordens: physical & psychological effects of drugs, influences the amount of activity occurring in the synapse, can serve as: Firing of postsynaptic neurons are changed, resulting in a shift of how we think, act, and feel. Most often influenced brain chemical is dopamine. Dopamine: neurotransmitter involved in responses to rewarding and pleasurable feelings: released in two brain areas (likely related to the high ), nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area. Positive-feeling drugs are important, and potentially dangerous as they reinforce the drug-taking behaviour. Effects of drugs will change when you become a frequent user. Physical dependence: the need to take a drug to ward off unpleasant physical withdrawal symptoms: characteristics vary from drug to drug. Psychological dependence: addiction develops without any physical symptoms of withdrawal: drug consumption is often used to ward off negative emotions, and when they no longer have this defence mechanism, they experience stress, depression, and anxiety. Increasing evidence suggests that genetics play a role in addiction.
