Drugs & The Brain
Pharmacology
study of the interaction between chemicals and living organisms
Neuropharmacology: Study of how chemicals affect the brain
Toxicology: study of harmful effects of drugs & toxins
Pharmacodynamics: how drugs affect the body
Pharmacokinetics = how the body affects drugs
Notes in receptors
One receptor can have many subunits
neurotransmitter
other substance sites as well
Binding
Lock & key: neurotransmitter fits into receptor like a lock & key
Induced fit: receptors & neurotransmitters grab each other
Bind —> shape changing
Drugs
Can be prescribed or recreationally
licit: Legal
illicit: Illegal
Drugs are not inherently good or bad, how it is used (societal standard)
determines good and badness
Most psychoactive substances have more than 1 mechanism of action
Drugs feel good: DA “reward” area
Drugs & The Brain 1
, tegmentum to nucleus succumbos
Rats will work to stimulate this until they die
Agonists
Mimics effects of given neurotransmitter
“the helper”
“lock pick”
Antagonist
Dampens effects of neurotransmitter
“The Vilans”
break or block lock
Direct agonist & antagonist
agonist: binds to receptor & recreates action
Antagonist: goes into receptor & blocks neurotransmitter from being able to
act
Acetylcholine
Nicotine: Agonist, mimicking it
Nicotinic receptors (ionotropic)
Muscarine: direct agonist
muscarinic receptors (metabotropic)
Curare: antagonist
Nicotinic receptors (ionotropic)
make muscles stop working, causes paralysis death
Atropine (belladonna): antagonist
Muscarinic receptor
Drugs & The Brain 2
Pharmacology
study of the interaction between chemicals and living organisms
Neuropharmacology: Study of how chemicals affect the brain
Toxicology: study of harmful effects of drugs & toxins
Pharmacodynamics: how drugs affect the body
Pharmacokinetics = how the body affects drugs
Notes in receptors
One receptor can have many subunits
neurotransmitter
other substance sites as well
Binding
Lock & key: neurotransmitter fits into receptor like a lock & key
Induced fit: receptors & neurotransmitters grab each other
Bind —> shape changing
Drugs
Can be prescribed or recreationally
licit: Legal
illicit: Illegal
Drugs are not inherently good or bad, how it is used (societal standard)
determines good and badness
Most psychoactive substances have more than 1 mechanism of action
Drugs feel good: DA “reward” area
Drugs & The Brain 1
, tegmentum to nucleus succumbos
Rats will work to stimulate this until they die
Agonists
Mimics effects of given neurotransmitter
“the helper”
“lock pick”
Antagonist
Dampens effects of neurotransmitter
“The Vilans”
break or block lock
Direct agonist & antagonist
agonist: binds to receptor & recreates action
Antagonist: goes into receptor & blocks neurotransmitter from being able to
act
Acetylcholine
Nicotine: Agonist, mimicking it
Nicotinic receptors (ionotropic)
Muscarine: direct agonist
muscarinic receptors (metabotropic)
Curare: antagonist
Nicotinic receptors (ionotropic)
make muscles stop working, causes paralysis death
Atropine (belladonna): antagonist
Muscarinic receptor
Drugs & The Brain 2
