Dopamine

through the increased release and decreased reuptake of the dopamine neurotransmitter within the synaptic gap, especially in the nucleus accumbens (Volkow, 1997). Over time, the repetitive influx of dopamine molecules can have detrimental effects on dependant individual, including depression (Hart, 2012). A study performed by Valklow and colleagues uses Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to view the brain’s response to a dopamine influx in both participants that have been previously…

effect on the substantia nigra. This part of the brain is by the base of the brain. • Dopamine is created in this area. After the dopamine is created it goes to the next part of the brain termed corpus striatum which is creates movement that is steady and continuous. • Without dopamine it causes the movement function to deteriorate. • It takes a while for symptoms to appear. Over half of the cells that make dopamine are gone before any symptoms present themselves. • Parkinson’s disease has…

Underage drinking: A serious Problem in Society Underage drinking is a huge problem in the world, by the age of 15; approximately 50% of teenagers have had at least one drink (Too Smart to Start). Not only is this “disease” affecting people all over the world, it is on an upwards trend and an increasing amount of teenagers are joining in. Thousands of people every year are negatively impacted due to the effects of alcohol. Whether one is underage, or they are in the legal age…

degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Causes: Nerve cells use a brain chemical called dopamine to help control muscle movement. With Parkinson’s disease, the brain cells located in the substantia nigra that make dopamine become impaired or die. Researchers do not know the cause of the death of the cells in the substantia nigra however. Without dopamine, the nerve cells that control movement is not able to send messages to the muscles.…

Schizophrenia would be described as a severe mental disorder that severely affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. They might have a difficult time understanding what is real and imaginary. People with Schizophrenia can be described as withdrawn and have a hard time expressing normal emotions. Although they have these difficulties they do not pose a threat to other people. Cognitive symptoms for some patients are minor but in others they can be sever and interfere with memory or other…

pathway of the brain to send out dopamine, a neurotransmitter that works directly with the reward and pleasure area of the brain. After experiencing the “high” from success on the internet one experiences two things. The first downfall is the addiction to the feeling. The pleasure of winning a virtual game or receiving 100 likes on an Instagram post is desirable and is often craved once the user has got a taste for it. The second downfall is depression. The dopamine release from the internet is…

Rodriguez Investigation of the potential TNT transmission of α-syn between neurons in PD pathogenesis A.SPECIFIC AIMS Parkinson’s disease (PD) is defined on a molecular level as an abnormal level of Lewy-body formation, as well as the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia-nigra in the midbrain . The major protein component found in Lewy-bodies is α-synuclein. This protein is most commonly found in synaptic clefts of neurons in the brain. In familial cases, the excess of these…

Alcohol is known for two major effects. The inhibition of the brain causing slurred speech and impaired body movement and a pleasurable sensation caused by increased dopamine levels. Alcohol also impacts the production of serotonin which is responsible for mood regulation. Gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) is one of the brain's natural inhibitors, in fact, it is actually the predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brains central nervous system. Normally the brain naturally regulates the…

cure, the treatment offered to the patients is purely temporary, to control the side-effects. Also, there is no exact cause for this disease, it could very well be genetic, or derived. For the most part, however, scientist believe that a lack of dopamine in the substantia nigra area of the brain may be the primary cause of PD. Genetics and age are also two other factors to be considered. Age cannot be used as the only factor since “about 10 percent of the nearly 1 million people living with the…

addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Cocaine speeds up the messages traveling between the brain and the rest of the body. The drug introduces a sense of exhilaration in the user, primarily by blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the midbrain (Ericson). The initial surge of euphoria is followed by a crash. The crash creates the need for more and the body becomes dependent on the drug. The effects appear almost immediately after a single dose. Cocaine makes…