Terms For Physiological Psychology: Chapter 4

Front 1

Pharmacokinetics

Back 1

To be effective, a drug must reach its site of action
In order to do so, a drug must:
1.Enter the body
2.Enter the bloodstream
3.Be carried to the organs they act on
4.Leave the blood stream
5.Contact the molecules with which they will interact
6.For most of the drugs we will be addressing this also means they must enter the CNS
7.Also once they enter the body, drugs begin to be metabolized (broken down by enzymes and dispersed or eliminated)

Front 2

Routes of Administration: Intravenous

Back 2

Injection into a vein

Front 3

Routes of Administration: Intraperitoneal

Back 3

Injection into a peritoneal cavity

Front 4

Routes of Administration: Intramuscular

Back 4

Injection into a muscle

Front 5

Routes of Administration: Subcutaneous

Back 5

Injection beneath the skin

Front 6

Routes of Administration: Oral

Back 6

Administration into the mouth and swallowed

Front 7

Routes of Administration: Sublingual

Back 7

Placed beneath the tongue

Front 8

Routes of Administration: Intrarectal

Back 8

Administration into the rectum

Front 9

Routes of Administration: Inhalation

Back 9

Vaporous substance into the lung

Front 10

Routes of Administration: Topical

Back 10

Administration onto the skin

Front 11

Routes of Administration: Intracerebral

Back 11

Administration directly into the brain

Front 12

Routes of Administration: Intracerebroventricular

Back 12

Into the cerebral ventricles

Front 13

Other Distribution Issues

Back 13

Drugs that are lipid soluble pass the blood brain barrier much quicker that drugs which are water soluble
Drugs also often bind with tissues or proteins in the blood, this is known as depot binding
Drugs do not remain in the body indefintely
Many are broken down by enzymes
All are eventually excreted
The liver plays an especially active role in the enzymatic deactivation of drugs

Front 14

Sites of Drug Action

Back 14

Location of effect
On production of neurotransmitters
On storage and release of neurotransmtters
On receptors
On reuptake or destruction of neurotransmitters
(See diagram on page 109)

Front 15

Antagonist

Back 15

A drug that opposes or inhibits the effect of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

Front 16

Agonist

Back 16

A drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

Front 17

Serotonin

Back 17

Six major pathways from the mid brain looping around the various parts of the brain

Believed to influence a great deal of our behavior, particularly the way we process information

Regulates our behavior, moods, and thought processes

Low levels associated with aggression, suicide, impulsive overeating, and excessive sexual behavior

Although not directly responsible for these behaviors, low serotonin activity may make us more vulnerable to certain problematic behaviors

Front 18

Dopamine

Back 18

Implicated in such disorders as schizophrenia - it is thought that in schizophrenia dopamine circuits may be too active

In the two major dopamine pathways in the mesolimbic and mesostriatal regions of the brain dopamine seems to act as a switch that turns on various brain circuits that are then inhibited or facilitated by other neurotransmitters

Dopamine circuits merge and cross with serotonin circuits at many points and therefore influence many of the same behaviors

Dopamine is associated with exploratory, outgoing, & pleasure seeking behaviors – serotonin is associated with inhibition and constraint, Thus in a since they balance each other

Front 19

Norepinephrine

Back 19

Primarily stimulates two groups of receptors called alpha-andrenergic and beta-andrenergic receptors

A number of norepinephrine circuits have been identified – one major circuit begins in the hind brain, in an area that controls basic bodily functions such as respiration

Another appears to influence emergency reactions or alarm responses

Thus norepinephrine may bear some relationship to states of panic

Beta-blockers help regulate hypertension or heart rate

Front 20

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid

Back 20

GABA for short, reduces post synaptic activity, which in turn, inhibits a wide variety of behaviors and emotions

Its best known effect is to reduce anxiety

The GABA pathways seem to reduce levels of anger, hostility, aggression, and perhaps even positive emotional states such as eager anticipation and pleasure