PS263 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Agonist, Neurotransmitter, Stimulant
Document Summary
Drug mechanisms: most commonly abused drugs come from plants. Predispositions: people differ in their predisposition to alcohol and drug abuse, depends on genetic & environmental factors, genetic influences: Mother drinks during pregnancy = child likely to develop alcoholism: childhood environment. Children carefully supervised by parents = less likely to develop impulse problems: adult environment, especially important for late-onset alcoholism, respond well to treatment. Impulsive: risk taking, easily bored, sensation seeking, outgoing. Treatments: some people manage to decrease their substance use without help, others require help, alcoholics-anonymous, narcotics-anonymous, etc, therapy. Neurotransmitter types: amino acids: glutamate (most common excitatory neurotransmitter in brain), gaba (most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain), glycine, aspartate, monoamines: dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, peptides: opioids, substance p, endorphins (ie. modulate how much pain you feel) Affect how neurons react to neurotransmitters (modulators) Over 100 types currently known: others: acetylcholine (motor neuron to muscle communication), anandamide, oxytocin. Neurotransmitter actions: many brain regions mostly use one transmitter, dopamine.
