Psychology 375 Brain and Behaviour Practice Questions and Correct Answers

Amphetamine Increases dopamine in the synaptic cleft by reversing its transporter as it can take the dopamine inside of the cell and pump it back out. Adderall, made from amphetamine, is prescribed for attention and focus. Meth is its potent form and very much illegal. Cocaine Purified extract from the coca plant that can be snorted as powder. Crack is modified so its boiling point is super low and the vapors are inhaled. What do drugs affecting the dopaminergic system do? Some dopamine agonists are used recreationally (cocaine, meth, amphetamine), others are prescribed (aderall, ritalin, L-Dopa, as well as for schizophrenia and psychosis). What do drugs affecting the glutamatergic system do? The glutamatergic system has several receptor types including: NMDA, AMPA, and kainate. Drugs binding to the NMDA receptor like PCP or ketamine (AKA dissociative anesthetics that detach the self and distort light and sound perception) produce hallucinations and out of body experiences. What do GABAergic drugs do? Agonists reduce anxiety at low doses, sedate at medium doses, and induce coma and anesthetize at high doses. Excitation of GABA_A receptors hyperpolarizes the membrane by opening chloride channels and allowing an influx. Why shouldn't some drugs be taken together? Because their effects can sum to the point where the effects are dangerous and the patient is about to overdose. Caffeine The most common psychoactive drug. It's adenosinergic (it binds to adenosine receptors). It also inhibits the enzyme that breaks down cAMP, which promotes glucose production, which means more energy. Describe the effectiveness of routes of administration for drugs Oral: it's safe, easy and convenient, but it takes forever to act as there are many barriers (capillaries, placenta, cell walls) between the blood-brain barrier and the mouth. Inhalation: it has less barriers but the lungs are among the easiest damaged tissues out there.