1. Pleasure Me, Pleasure Me!
Unit 2: Nervous System
Textbook Reading
(from page 214)

2. On the Back of the Reading:
Copy the Following Questions.
Answer the Questions completely.
READING QUESTIONS:
1) Which brain region controls most of your addictive emotions?
2) Explain how the drug “speed” produces a pleasurable feeling.
3) Explain how the drug “cocaine” produces a pleasurable feeling.
4) What about the chemistry of cocaine makes it extremely addictive?
Hypothalamus
Speed and many other amphetamines trick the brain into producing pleasurable neurotransmitter chemicals. However as you trick your body more and more, your body produces less and less.
Cocaine blocks many dopamine reabsorption receptors. This keeps dopamine circulating for longer in your system, prolonging a pleasurable feeling.
Because dopamine blocks reabsorption receptors, the brain thinks it is over producing dopamine. The brain produces less dopamine, while at the same time produces more receptors to bind with the dopamine. To regain the high from cocaine you need more cocaine to block the receptors  which makes your brain make less of the “feel good chemical” and grow more receptors which will bind more dopamine.