Bio Psych: Effect of recreational drugs on Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

What are drugs?

Answer 1

biochemicals, effect functioning of body systems

Question 2

What are the 2 types of drugs? Describe them briefly.

Answer 2

• Physiologcial (improve physical health)

- Psychological (effect mind + behaviour + transmission in CNS)

Question 3

Give 1 example each for the 2 types of drugs

Answer 3

• Physio e.g. steroids / antibiotics

- Psych. e.g. anti-depressants like serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Question 4

What are recreational drugs?

Answer 4

(drug definition), taken for pleasure

Question 5

What is the Reward Pathway? Give 3 points and an example of one.

Answer 5

• (in brain) causes pleasant feeling
• we repeat behaviour for pathway
• has adaptive functions + evolved (e.g. we store fat for famine prep)
• e.g. sugary foods

Question 6

What do drugs do to the Reward Pathway?

Answer 6

• hijack Reward System = pleasure without adaptive functioning

Question 7

What is Dopamine? Give 2 points

Answer 7

• NT in Reward Pathway

- pathways flooded w/ Dopamine in pleasure activities

Question 8

What are 3 types of recreational drugs?

Answer 8

• Alcohol
• Amphetamines
• Ecstasy

Question 9

What is the type of effect Alcohol has on the CNS?

Answer 9

• depressive effect

Question 10

What are the NTs involved with Alcohol and which is inhibitory?

Answer 10

Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA (inhibitory), glutamate

Question 11

How does Alcohol work in synaptic transmission? Give 2 points. (Mode of action)

Answer 11

• neurons ‘burn out’ => reactions of pathways slowed down

- increases GABA’s effect on brain => sluggish movement + slurred speech

Question 12

What are some long-term (LT) effects of Alcohol on the body?

Answer 12

LT effects: poor memory, impulsive behaviours, increase in blood pressure => stroke / heart attack

Question 13

What is the type of effect Amphetamines have on the CNS synaptic transmission process?

Answer 13

stimulant

Question 14

What are the NTs involved with Amphetamines?

Answer 14

dopamine and norepinephrine

Question 15

How do Amphetamines work in synaptic transmission? Give 2 points. (Mode of action)

Answer 15

• release hormones for alertness and survival mode e.g. adrenaline / insulin
• block Dopamine reuptake = more dopamine in synapse

Question 16

What are some long-term (LT) effects of Amphetamines on the body?

Answer 16

Breathing troubles, seizures, Psychosis, extreme fatigue

Question 17

What is the type of effect Ecstasy has on the CNS synaptic transmission process?

Answer 17

stimulant

Question 18

What are the NTs involved with Ecstasy?

Answer 18

• Serotonin (happiness), dopamine (pleasure) + norepinephrine (a euphoric state).

Question 19

How does Ecstasy work in synaptic transmission? (Mode of action)

Answer 19

blocks reuptake of all the NTs = more of each in synapse

Question 20

What are some long-term (LT) effects of Ecstasy on the body?

Answer 20

heart damage, depression, aggression

Question 21

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give supporting evidence (AO3+1)

Answer 21

• AO3: evidence for role of dopamine in reward pathways e.g. Weinshenker + Schroeder (2007): lesioned brain area, mice, dopamine not produced => no self-administering cocaine = dopamine makes drug addictive)
• AO1: (reward pathway definition)

Question 22

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give a competing argument for the supporting evidence (AO3)

Answer 22

• unethical (mice can’t consent, vulnerable) / artificial situation (self-administering cocaine) / low generalisability (humans brains more complex than animals’)

Question 23

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Is it Testable? (AO3+1)

Answer 23

• AO3: Not fully testable, human brain is complex, complex networks + interactions, not generalisable
• AO1: (Ecstasy’s function = shows complexity)

Question 24

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give a competing argument for the ‘Testable’ part of SCOUT (AO3+1)

Answer 24

• AO3: human studies show sim results = Testable
• AO1: e.g. PET scans, track dopamine transporters’ activity, cocaine induced high, discovery: higher activity (linked to higher dopamine) increased ptps’ intense feelings

Question 25

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give Usefulness (application) (AO3+1)

Answer 25

• AO3: useful to develop better treatments for addiction (e.g. drugs w/ adverse effect that reduce symptoms) + knowledge of LT effects encourages quitting addiction
• AO1: (LT effects of Ecstasy)

Question 26

Evaluate what is known about the effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the CNS (8 marks) - Give balanced conc (AO3)

Answer 26

• Good: knowledge of neurology of recreational drugs = bio basis for addiction
• Bad: long way to go to understanding drug effects (complex NT systems)