Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs Basic terms Drug Any substance that is ingested that alters the body or the brain Psychoactive drug Drug that alters perceptions, behavior, or mood

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs Basic terms Tolerance Over time, increased amount of drug needed to produce same effect “Build up tolerance” Neuroadaptation Brain tries to counter disruption to normal functioning caused by drug What causes tolerance More brain counters, more drug needed, more brain counters

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs Basic terms Addiction State of dependency on a drug Withdrawal Symptoms caused by stopping use of a drug Usually highly uncomfortable, distressing, often painful

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs Basic terms Physical dependence Physiological need for drug Usually drug mimics neurotransmitter, body stops producing it Usually painful withdrawal symptoms Psychological dependence Psychological need for drug Person believes can’t function without drug Examples Chapstick, hand sanitizer

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs Background Psychoactive drugs categorized: Medically Specifically, how they affect the CNS

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs Background Five Major categories Depressants Stimulants Opioids / Opiates Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs Marijuana

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs My suggestion, make yourself a chart of the five categories of drugs to help you keep the information in order, like what’s on page 301 For example: Category What they do Effects Examples

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants What they do Slows (depresses) neural activity Mostly effects: Frontal lobe Hindbrain

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants Effects on the nervous system & body Afferent & efferent neurons, motor cortex all affected (slowed) Slows reaction time

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants Effects on the nervous system & body Association areas in frontal lobe depressed Impairs judgment Impairs long-term planning Lessens inhibitions Reduces self-awareness

Impairs judgment You somehow think this is a good plan Impairs long-term planning No one is going to remember this next week… (trust me, they will) Lessens inhibitions Normally, you wouldn’t do such a thing Reduces self-awareness Unaware what you look like

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants Effects on the nervous system & body Broca’s area Slurring of speech Cerebellum Balance, coordination problems Medulla oblongata Depresses automatic functions Stop, if too much consumed Heartbeat, breathing, ability to vomit

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants Effects on memory Doesn’t effect: short-term recall existing long-term memories Difficult to create long-term memories State dependent memory Memories made while intoxicated – difficult to remember sober Able to remember next time in that state (drunk)

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants Major depressants Alcohol Barbiturates Anesthesia Sleeping pills Also known as “Downers”

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 1) Depressants Major depressants, continued Tranquilizers AKA: Sedatives Treat anxiety Examples: Valium & Xanax

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants What they do Increase activity of CNS Effects on the nervous system & body Heighten alertness Increase energy Speed up CNS/automatic functions Can overtax/permanently damage these parts of the body

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants Effects on the nervous system & body Many mimic effects of neurotransmitters Highly physically addictive Tolerance built up quickly Makes withdrawal difficult

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants Major stimulants Amphetamines (Speed) Synthetic stimulant Has legitimate medical use Methamphetamine (meth) More potent form of Amphetamines No longer used medically Solely recreational use

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants Major stimulants Cocaine Derived from leaves of coca plant Crack: concentrated form Ecstasy Methyenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Anything in large enough amounts is a hallucinogen (i.e., stimulant)

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants Major stimulants Caffeine Most popular drug in the world Found in coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, etc. Nicotine Highly addictive Found in tobacco

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants Major stimulants Nicotine Highly addictive Found in tobacco Mimics neurotransmitters: Acetylcholine Dopamine Vasopressin: increases blood pressure

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 3) Opiods/Opiates What they are Derived from alkaloids of resin of opium plant Natural, synthetic, partially synthetic Used as pain relief Decreases perception & reaction to pain Agonist: mimics endorphins

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 3) Opiods/Opiates What they are/effects Sometimes (incorrectly) put into the depressant category Can depress bodily functions (respiratory functions, etc) Different method than depressants

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 3) Opiods/Opiates What they are/effects Depressants slow hindbrain Opioids depress respiratory function itself Causes drowsiness

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 3) Opiods/Opiates Effects on the nervous system & body Intense feeling of euphoria Highly physically addictive Tolerance builds up very quickly More and more needed to prevent withdrawal No longer produces euphoria, just maintaining level to function

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 3) Opiods/Opiates Major opiods Opium (natural) Morphine (natural) Codeine (natural) Diacetylmorphine (heroin) (semi-synthetic) Methadone (fully synthetic)

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs What they are Distort perceptions Cause heightened sensory alertness (colors seem brighter, sounds clearer, etc.) Cause hallucinations

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs Addiction Not physically addicting Strongly psychologically Types Natural substances Synthetic

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs Natural Mesculine: peyote cactus Psilocybin: certain types of mushrooms Synthetic Phencyclidine: PCP or angel dust Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): acid

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs Effects How alter perceptions still unclear Serotonin receptors? Effects people differently in different situations (why is unclear)

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Background Sometimes put into one of the other categories Or, considered its its own category

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Background Depressants Depresses the neural system Depresses inhibitions, judgment, etc

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Background Hallucinogenic Causes (usually mild) hallucinations

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Background Opioids Feeling of euphoria Drowsiness However, not derived from opium poppy

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Background Stimulant Can stimulate mood Intensifies mood of user

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana What it is Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Active ingredient of marijuana Found in leaves, flowering top of hemp plant Cannabis Hashish: cooked down, mashed into a paste

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Effects on the nervous system & body How THC effects brain largely unknown THC neuroreceptors found in: Frontal lobe Limbic system Motor cortex

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Effects on the nervous system & body Because THC neuroreceptor found, neurotransmitter in the body apparently Haven’t found it & don’t know what it does Have found similar neurotransmitters, just not for THC

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 5) Marijuana Effects on the nervous system & body Low physically addictive High psychologically addictive THC lingers in body for a month or so Body does not build up a tolerance Small dose needed to produce desired effect

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants How cocaine works: 1/3 Agonist – blocks reuptake of: Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine Excess neurotransmitters causes euphoric rush

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants How cocaine works: 2/3 Stop use of cocaine Natural neurotransmitters used up quicker than usually Body producing at same rate

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants How cocaine works: 3/3 Body crashes because lacks these neurotransmitters Leads to agitation (lack of dopamine) depression (lack of serotonin & norepinephrine)

Unit VIII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs 2) Stimulants How ecstasy works: Dopamine & Serotonin Agonist Vesicle release excess of both Blocks reuptake of both More of them bind to neuroreceptor site than usually do Causes good feeling (Serotonin), want to keep taking it (Dopamine)