Neurotransmitters in the brain such as, Dopamine, Serotonin, acetylcholine, noradrenalin and glutamate send messages to control our mood, behaviour, appetite, sleep patterns and memory. These neurotransmitters are unable to reduplicate so when they are damaged they cannot be replaced.…
Neurons are electrically excitable cells found in the nervous system, which is mainly responsible in the transmission of information between the neurons and the cells. With the neurons, all body systems are able to communicate with the brain through sending and receiving signals and a connection within specific regions of the central nervous system is established. To be able to attain its function, neurotransmitters are needed by the neurons so that signals between a neuron and a cell are relayed, amplified and modulated. Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by a neuron at the presynaptic nerve terminal by which movement across a small gap called the synapse facilitates accomplishment of communication of information between the neurons and the other cells. These neurotransmitters have various functions, which include regulation, stimulation, motivation, transmissions and inhibitions of different body functions. Neurotransmitters play major roles in regulation of moods, emotion, affect, sensory functions, and perception thus has great impacts on behaviour. Common neurotransmitters that can affect the behaviour include dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Dopamine is released in different parts of the brain usually released by naturally rewarding factors such as food, sex, and drugs. It has stimulating effects and performs many functions including important roles in behaviour and cognition, motivation and pleasure, sexual arousal, regulation of sleep, mood, attention, motor activities, and learning. Serotonin also controls mood and behaviour including sexual and hallucinogenic behaviours, appetite, sleep, memory and learning.…
Methamphetamine quickly affects the brain when either injected or smoked. Within seconds the user will feel a surge of euphoria from an increase in dopamine levels in the brain making the user feel full of energy. Methamphetamine not only stimulates the release of dopamine into the synaptic space, but also prevents neurons from recycling after it is released. This allows the feel of euphoria to persist in the body for an extended period of time. Some of the immediate physical effects of methamphetamine use include: excessive energy, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, decreased appetite, increased respiration, and increased body temperature. Abusers will develop a tolerance to methamphetamines when taken repeatedly, and will modify how they take it in order to replicate the desired effect of euphoria. Addiction is one of the most common consequences of long-term abuse of methamphetamines. Some of the common symptoms of chronic abusers include: increased anxiety, insomnia, alteration in mood, and violent behavior. Methamphetamine abusers can also exhibit signs of psychotic behavior including: hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. These symptoms can exist for years after a person has stopped using methamphetamines, and can reoccur by periods of extreme stress. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can have significant changes to brain structure and function especially those areas associated with memory and emotion. There is also reduced binding of dopamine to its transport protein within the area of the striatum which is important for movement and memory. Studies have shown that some of the neurobiological effects of methamphetamine abuse appear to be somewhat reversible but can take years. There is an increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease among previous users of methamphetamine. Some users suffer severe physical effects due to years of abuse including noticeable tooth decay, weight loss, and severe skin sores from excessive scratching at skin…
Stimulants can be used to speed up the central nervous system making a person fell more alert and aware of their surroundings. Depressants are the opposites and reduce the activity of the nervous system and produce a feeling of calm and/or “taking the edge off”. Hallucinogenics can be used to make an individual have hallucinations and have distortions in space and time. The use of drugs can cause the neurotransmitters to stop the production of certain chemicals need for healthy brain function. The blockage of second messengers, which are the chemical and electrical process which that occur in the receiving neuron, make the user need to take more of the drug in order to try to reproduce the affect on the brain. Some of the signs of use can be physical such as: rapid weight gain or loss, random eye movement, enlarged pupils, uncontrolled muscle movement, and redness of eyes. Changes and mood and behavior doing things that are out of the norm. Also great shifts in emotional stability from being very excited and happy to being depressed and suicidal.…
Using drugs puts an excess amount of neurotransmitters in the body. When there is an overflow the brain stops making it naturally and when the drug wears off it takes time for the brain to star making the chemical once again on its own system. Some neurotransmitters are dopamine, serotonin, Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Gamm-amniobutyric acid, Endorphins. Endorphins are natural opiates.…
This is an anesthetic that work to is antagonize, or inhibit the action of, the N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor. The anesthesia that is induced is referred to as dissociative anesthesia. There is evidence that NMDA receptor antagonists can cause a certain type of brain damage, referred to as Olney's Lesions in rodents, but this type of damage has not yet been found in adult humans. Although NMDA antagonists were once thought to cause neurotoxicity in humans, for example Olney's lesions, recent research suggests otherwise. Olney's lesions involve mass vacuolization of neurons observed in rodents. However, this is not a valid for human use, and studies conducted on primates have shown that use of NMDA receptor antagonist drugs must be heavy and chronic to cause major neurotoxicity. Although, temporary and permanent cognitive impairments have been found in long-term/heavy human users of the NMDA antagonists PCP and ketamine. An NMDA receptor antagonists depletes the NMDA receptors. Depleted NMDA receptor function is associated with a variety of negative effects. For example, NMDA receptor hypofunction that occurs as the brain ages may be partially responsible for memory deficits associated with aging. Schizophrenia may also have to do with irregular NMDA receptor function. Because of these psychotomimetic effects, NMDA receptor antagonists, like PCP are used as recreational drugs. Another way according to the NIDA that…
Neurotransmitters Content P.1 P.2 P.3 P.4 P.5 s P.6 P.7 What is neurotransmitters? Types of neurotransmitters…
According to some Psychologists, chemical imbalance can lead to depression and other mental illnesses. It is very unclear that depression is one of the possible symptoms of a chemical imbalance. However, chemical imbalance doesn’t lead to every kind of depression seen in the lives of many people.(Admin,2012) Approximately five percent of the United States ' population experiences a depressive episode that requires psychopharmacological treatment; in any one year, ten to twelve million Americans are affected by depression, with the condition twice as common in females than in males.(Ho, 2002) We all have chemical signals that are called neurotransmitters and they come in a variety of forms like Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine. All three of these neurotransmitters play a very important role in maintaining normal mood, motivation and concentration.…
Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental disorder that affects 1% of the world’s population. It is characterized by a range of striking disturbances in mental functioning that can be grouped into both positive and negative symptoms, and also cognitive and psychosocial dysfunctions (Hales, Yudofsky, & Gabbard, 2008) (Abi-Dargham, 2004) (DeLeon, Patel, & Crismon, 2004). The aetiology of schizophrenia is yet to be concluded and while there are several hypotheses that are generally accepted such as genetics and environmental factors, it is the classical dopamine hypothesis that is discussed in this paper. The classical dopamine hypothesis postulates that the mental disorder is a manifestation of a hyperdopaminergic state (Davis, Kahn, Ko, & Davidson, 1991). It had emerged in the 1960s through the observation of the effects of antipsychotic drugs and stimulants that increase dopaminergic activity (Birtwistle & Baldwin, 1998) (van Rossum, 1966). It will be argued in this paper that while the dopamine hypothesis is compelling there are limitations to be considered. Using the study of first generation antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine and sympathomimetic drug amphetamine it will be asserted that the classical theory does not account for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Further, using the study of a second generation antipsychotic or atypical antipsychotic, aripiprazole, it would elucidate that other neurotransmitter systems may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.…
This essay will discuss the phenomenon of neuroadaption within the human body, which may be associated with alcohol withdrawal. Along with this, it will also describe the clinical features from alcohol withdrawal, which can progress from the mild to very severe. The essay will also discuss the appropriate treatment interventions and actions, which might improve alcohol withdrawal. Neuroadaptation is described…
Numerous neurotransmitters affect the way a person behaves, learns, emotions, and sleep. Some also affecti mental illnesses. Some examples of neurotransmitters which affect our learning and development are; Acetylcholine affects a persons voluntary movement, learning, memory, and sleep. Dopamine affects a persons movement, attention, and learning.…
There is a tiny gap between two neurons known as the synapse. Neurotransmitters cross the synapse from one neuron to another and attach onto the receptors of the receiving neuron. Neurotransmitters and receptors have a lock and key relationship; therefore, only specific neurotransmitters will fit into a certain receptor. It is suggested that depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain such as an imbalance of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. They have been identified as playing a primary role regulating emotions, regulating appetite, ability to sleep and so…
When drugs affect Elizabeth’s neurotransmitter, feedback loop in the brain attempts to prevent the underproduction of neurotransmitter levels. Elizabeth’s brain may try to compromise this by reducing the number of receptors sites and the sensitivity of key neurotransmitter in the brains ‘reward circuits’. As a consequence of this action, more of the drug is needed to reach the same level of stimulation as fewer receptor sites are available.…
to long term (just a few months or possibly forever) becomes distorted and the brain is unable to store…
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are released by the neurons. Neurotransmitters are how cells “talk” to one another. Neurotransmitters play a huge role in the regulation of emotions and moods along with many other things. Some common neurotransmitters are serotonin, dopamine, noradrenalin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. The neurotransmitters actions vary greatly depending on what structure. Low serotonin production is associated with depression. Low dopamine causes problems with cognition memory. Nonadrenalin is associated with flight or fight response. Acetycholine is associated with plasticity and excitability. Norepinephrine affects alertness, and is very important in regulating long term memory and learning. All of these neurotransmitters have certain functions but they also affect how people behave. For example low serotonin can cause a person to feel depressed and not want to be around anyone. They may not want to eat or they may binge. The person may withdraw…