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Neurobiology > Topic 4 > Flashcards

Topic 4 Flashcards

(45 cards)

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1
Q

Addiction Defintion

A

Compulsive drug seeking behaviour and abuse
even when facing negative health affects

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2
Q

Acute affect of drug taking

A

Getting high
caused by changes in neural transmission
i.e changes in the amount of neurotransmitter being released or changes to the activation of receceptors

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3
Q

Long term effects of dug taking

A

Altered brain function
neuronal death
changes to white matter in the brain
adaptations at the molecular level

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4
Q

Reward circutory

A

Located in midbrain
Ventral Tegmental - releases dopaminergic neurotransmitters - these go to the nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex - release of dopamine in these areas causes pleasure - therefore reinforces the behaviour
Taking drugs increases the dopamine releases

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5
Q

stimulant

A

increases energy

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6
Q

depressant

A

Decreases energy

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7
Q

Reasons to take drugs

A

Stress, depression, social anxiety, curiosity, athletic performance

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8
Q

Characteristics of drug addiction

A

Dependency
Tolerance
Withdrawal

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9
Q

Dependancy

A

Occurs after chronic drug use causes physical adaptations to the brain. The brain essentially gets use to the drug being in the brain and therefore can’t function without the presence of the drug

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10
Q

Tolerance

A

When the user has to take a higher dose or use a drug more frequently to achieve the same high

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11
Q

Withdrawal

A

Is a sign that the body has become dependent on the drug
the person will exhibit negative affects when not taking the drug

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12
Q

Loss of control

A

Hallmark of addiction
due to structural and functional changes to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain that is responsible for judgement, planning and decision making

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13
Q

Factors influencing addiction

A

Genetic - genetic heritability, neuropsychiatric disorders ie anxiety, ADHD, PTSD or depression
Environmental - Issues with early life or school life, low socioeconomic, peers taking substances, lack of parental supervision, exposed to parents taking drugs at an early age, physical or sexual abuse

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14
Q

Reward circuitry name

A

Mesocorticolimbic Dopaminergic Reward System

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15
Q

Parts of MesoDopa reward system

A

1) Mesolimbic pathway = VTA to Nuclous accumben
2) Mesocortico pathway = VTA to prefrontal cortex

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16
Q

VTA

A

Ventral Tegamentum

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17
Q

Heroin and nicotine affects

A

Acts on dopaminergic receptors on cell body and dendrites - stimulates these receptors

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18
Q

Alcohol and cocaine affects

A

Blocks dopamine reuptake in synapse - binds to the dopamine transporters, preventing the dopamine from binding to them

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19
Q

Substantial Nigra

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A

Apart of basal ganglion (grey matter)
responds to dopamine
Plays a role in motor control

20
Q

Striatum

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A

Apart of basal ganglia
responds to dopamine
Plays a role in emotional response

21
Q

Classical Conditioning

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A

When an environmental cue becomes associated with a behaviour

22
Q

Drugs of abuse

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A

All can cross the blood-brain barrier
all have an increasing effect of dopamine in the reward circuitry
All have similar structure to neurotransmitters
All either mimic, enhance or block action of neurotransmitters
They act on specific targets - normal drugs lack specificty

23
Q

Hallucinogens and Dissociative drugs

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A

Distort an individuals perception of reality
Many are found in nature - psilocbye and peyote
2 classes - classic hallucinogens and dissacotiatives

24
Q

Classical Hallucingens

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A

Act on pre-synaptic serotonin receptors
structure is very similar to serotonin
I.e LSD, peyote
cause profound distortions of reality

25
Dissocitaives
All man-made PCP, Ketamine disrupts the action of glutamate at the NMDA receptor (learning and memory) All made to be anaesthetics Disort perception of sight and sound
26
Stimulants
All structurally similar to dopamine Amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine developed as therapeutic drugs originally All are highly addicitve
27
Cocaine
Acts on all dopamine transporters but specifically the ones in the rewards system - more specifically in the nucleus accumbens binds to dopamine transporters which block their reuptake, prolonging their affect in the synapse
28
Forms of cocaine
Water-soluble hydrochloride salt - the powder form water-insoluble cocaine base - crack/ is smoked
29
Methamphetamine
Stimulant derivative of amphetamine but stronger as it is more potent, meaning higher concentrations can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, it also lasts in the synapse for longer causes brain damage - specifically to the neuron terminals acts like cocaine but also increases the release of dopamine talkative, restless, decreased appetite
30
MDMA
aka ecstasy affects both serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline stimulant and psychedelic - affects multiple neurotransmitter systems enhances release of neurotransmitters and blocks their reuptake mood elevating due to serotonin - however, when drug wears off serotonin stores become depleted - causes negative effects of confusion, restless and depression
31
Nicotine
affects nicotinic receptors stimulant agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine increase dopamine and stimulate reward pathway very short lasting - hence why need to smoke every couple of hours smoking allows rapid dissapation of nicotine in cns
32
long-term effects of MDMA
brain damage, cognitive issues, tachycardia, kidney dysfunction, high blood pressure
33
Inhalants
solvents, areosals, gases, nitrates absorbed rapidly by bloodstream but only last a few minutes CNS depressant slurred speech, euphoria, delsuion, light headedness
34
alcohol
affects all organs but primarily the brain depressant causes inhibtion and supresses brain functinon affects a number of different targets ie transporters and receptors main ones are GABAa receptor, NMDA receptor and dopamine transporter acute effects: impaired coordination, poor judgment, affects learning and memory
35
long-term effects of alcohol
brain builds up tolerance to alcohol changes in gene expression genes that code for the receptors and transporters that alcohol effects will be downregulated to lessen the affect and so that there are fewer targets avaliable after a long period of time these changes will be irreversible
36
Diagnosing Alcohol dependance
Must have at least 3 of the following: Development of tolerance withdrawal symptoms loss of control unsuccessful attempts to stop or minimise. alcohol consumption changes in lifestyle, ie social withdrawal continuing to use despite negative health consequences
37
Alchohol Metabolism
Alcohol to acetaldehyde via alcohol dehydrogenase acetaldehyde to acetate via acetaldehyde dehydrogenase
38
Affects of alcohol on the brain
Loss of grey and white matter enlarged cerebral ventricles brain mass shrinkage - this is reversible
39
Alcoholism symptoms
4 major symptoms craving loss of control tolerance physical dependance
40
Molecular targets of alcohol
GABA A receptor NMDA receptor Dopamine Transporters
41
Effects on GABA A receptor
alcohol is an allosteric modulator increases action of receptor by increasing its affinity for GABA, hence leaving the cl- gates open for longer this increases the sedative effects
42
Effects on NMDA
NMDA is excitatory alcohol directly inhibits its function creating a sedative effect when alcohol is removed causes a surge in glutamate - this causes an over excitatory response and can lead to seizures
43
Effects on dopamine transporter
Increases dopamine release and blocks the re-uptake of dopamine when you stop drinking dopamine release is decreased and re-uptake is increased
44
Treatments for Alcoholism
Detox given with a benzodiazapene AA and therpay Pharmological
45
Pharalogical treatments for alcoholism
Benzodiazapene Naltrexone Acamprosate Disulfram

Neurobiology (6 decks)

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