Drugs And Behavior Ch. 4

Front 1

What is homeostasis?

Back 1

Maintenance of internal stability; often biochemical by nature.

Front 2

Define Neurotransmitter-

Back 2

Chemical messenger released by neurons.

Front 3

Define Hormones-

Back 3

Chemical messengers released into the blood by glands.

Front 4

Why is your body susceptible to the influence of drugs?

Back 4

Drugs are able to exploit the regulatory substances and change function of the nervous system in order to illicit their effect.

Front 5

What are the two principle systems resonsible for maintaining homeostasis?

Back 5

Nervous System
Endocrine System

Front 6

Define Neurons

Back 6

specialized nerve cells that make up the nervous system and release transmitters

Front 7

What is the process by which Neurons transfer messages? (4 Steps)

Back 7

1. The receiving region of a cell is affected by a chemical message, if it is excited it sends it's own message if it's inhibited it is prevented from doing so.
2.If message is excitatory a chemical impule moves from the receiving region down it's axons to the sending region. When it reaches the terminal neurotransmitters are released.
3. Neurotransmitters aer released and travel a short distance and bind to receptors
4.Activation of receptors causes change in activity of target cell

Front 8

Define Receptors-

Back 8

special proteins imbeded in the membrane that are activaated by natural substances or drugs to alter cell function.

Front 9

How are Neurons distinguished from one another?

Back 9

By the type of chemical substances they relesae as neurotransmitters.

Front 10

Define Psychoactive drugs-

Back 10

Drugs that affect mood or alter the state of consciousness.

Front 11

What comprises the Nervous System (3)? What is it's function?

Back 11

1. Brain
2.Spinal Chord
3. Neurons that connect to other organs and tissue of the body
Function is to enable an organizm to receive information about the internal and external environment and to make the appropriate responses essential to survival.

Front 12

Explain the synapse and synaptic cleft.

Back 12

Neurons form a complex network which is noncontinuous, meaning they never actually touch. The point of communication between neurons is a synapse. the gap is called the synaptic cleft.

Front 13

What are dendrites?

Back 13

short branches of neurons that receive transmitter signals.

Front 14

What are the two types of synapses?

Back 14

1.Excitory Synapse which initiates an impulse in the receiving neuron when stimulated, releases neurotransmitters or increases activity in target cell.
2.Inhibatory Synapse diminishes the likelihood of an impulse in the receiving neuron or reduces activity in the target cell.

Front 15

What are receptors physically?

Back 15

Special proteins located in the membranes of receiving neurons and other target cells.

Front 16

What are endogenous messenger substances?

Back 16

Chemicals produced within the body, such as neurotransmitters and hormones which cause messages.

Front 17

What are opiate receptors?

Back 17

sites of actino by narcotic drugs such as heroin and morphine which are naturally present in animal and human brains.

Front 18

What are endorphins?

Back 18

neurotransmitters that have narcotic like effects?

Front 19

What is the significance of the discovery of opiate receptors and endorphins?

Back 19

The body has endogenous substances that mimic the effects of valium and marijuana and help provide natural sedation and relaxation for the body.

Front 20

How to the shapes of protein receptors play a role in brain chemistry?

Back 20

The shape of the protein is essential in regulating a drug/chemicals interaction with the cell.

Front 21

What are agonistic and antagonistic effects on receptors?

Back 21

Drugs have these two different effects on a receptor when interaction occurs.
Agonistic- a type of substance that activates a receptor.
Antagonistic- a type of substance that blocks a receptor.

Front 22

What happens to neurotransmitters once they have done their job?

Back 22

They are inactivated by difffusion, metabolism, or taken back up into the neuron by selective transporter proteins.

Front 23

What is Acetylcholine?

Back 23

1. Wide spread neurotransmitter, in the autonomic portion of the PNS
2.Can be escitatory or inhibitory depending on region of location.

Front 24

What are the two main subtypes of receptors activated by Acetycholine?

Back 24

1.Muscarinic Receptors
2.Nicotinic Receptors

Front 25

What are Catecholamines?

Back 25

A class of biochemical com;pounds including the transmitters norepinephrine, epinphrine, and dopamine.

Front 26

What are the two major componenents of the nervous system?

Back 26

1. Central Nervous System- includes brain and spinal chord
2.Peripheral nervous system- the peripheral nervous system including neurons outside the CCNS

Front 27

What is the Reticular Activating system?

Back 27

An area of the brain that receives input from all of the sensory systems as well as the cerebral cortex. At junction of spinal chord and brain. Controls sleep versus wake.

Front 28

What are Anticholinergic drugs?

Back 28

Drugs that supress the effects of acetylcholine and cholinergic drugs in general, thus supressing activty in the RAS.

Front 29

What are the Basal Ganglia?

Back 29

The primary centers for involuntary and finely tuned motor cuntions involving posture and muscle tone.

Front 30

What is the Limbic System?

Back 30

Includes an assortment of linked brain regions near to and including the hypothalamus. Primary role is regulating emotionas, memory, and hypothalimic functions.

Front 31

What is the Cerebral Cortex?

Back 31

Repsonbisble for receiving sensory input, interpreting information, and initiating voluntary motor behavior.

Front 32

What is the associated cortex?

Back 32

the msot developed part of the c ortex, do not directy receive input from enviroment or directly initiate output to the muscles or the glands. Store memories, control complex behavior, help process info, and make decisions.

Front 33

What is the hypothalamus?

Back 33

Located near base of brain integrates information from many sources and serves as the CNS control center for the ANS and many vital support functions.

Front 34

What is the automatic nervous system?

Back 34

a part of the the peripheral nervous system which controls unconcious functions of the body.

Front 35

What two functional components is the ANS divided into?

Back 35

1.Sympathetic
2.Parasympathetic

Front 36

What neurotransmitters do each emit?

Back 36

Sympathetic- releases Norepenipherine
Parasympathetic- releases ACh