1. UNIT 5 – STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

3. Psychopharmacology: an area of psychology that studies the effects of psychoactive drugs on the brain and nervous systems.
Psychoactive Drugs: a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood (affects consciousness).
In order for a drug to have an effect on the brain, it must pass the blood-brain barrier, which helps prevent certain substances from entering brain tissue. However, if a drug is able to pass through this barrier, then it will affect the thinking and behavior of the person taking it. Once past the blood-brain barrier a drug can either mimic/excite (agonist) or block/inhibit (antagonist) the role of a neurotransmitter. Some drugs are also capable of slowing the reuptake of excess neurotransmitters in the synapse.

4. 25.1 – Define substance use disorders, and explain the roles of tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction.
Substance Use Disorders: occurs when a pattern of drug use interferes with personal and social meaning and functioning. What used to be important to a person does not seem as significant compared to the option of taking the drug. People often realize they have a problem when they continually choose to consume the drug.

6. 25.1 – Define substance use disorders, and explain the roles of tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction.
Tolerance: the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect. When someone routinely takes a drug, his or her body builds up a greater need for the drug, causing his or her tolerance level to increase – which could result in withdrawal symptoms if that tolerance level is not met or exceeded regularly.

7. 25.1 – Define substance use disorders, and explain the roles of tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction.
Addiction: compulsive craving of drugs or certain behaviors (such as gambling) despite know adverse consequences.
1) Psychological Dependency: is when a person chooses to take a drug despite knowing the ramifications it could cause in other areas of his or her life.
2) Physical Dependency: also referred to as addiction, results in the body’s dependence on the drug to function. If the body doesn’t get the amount it desires, the person experiences withdrawal symptoms.

8. 25.1 – Define substance use disorders, and explain the roles of tolerance, withdrawal, and addiction.
Withdrawal Symptoms: upon stopping use of a drug (after addiction), users may experience the undesirable effects of withdrawal, which include unpleasant headaches, shaking, and intense cravings for the drug.

9. 25.2 – Identify the depressants, and describe their effects.
There are 3 types of psychoactive drugs:
1) Depressants - slow down (reduce) activity in central nervous system.
2) Stimulants – speed up (excite) activity in central nervous system.
3) Hallucinogens – psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort
perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory
input.

10. 25.2 – Identify the depressants, and describe their effects.
Physical Effects on the Brain and Body:
-slow down (reduce) activity in central nervous system.
-increase number of GABA neurotransmitters, which inhibit brain
activity.

11. 25.2 – Identify the depressants, and describe their effects.
Examples:
-Alcohol: affect motor skills, judgement, and memory – increases aggressiveness while
reducing self-awareness. Excessive alcohol consumption can shrink the brain, especially in women.
-Barbiturates: drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but
impairing memory and judgement. Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal are some examples.
-Opiates: opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily
lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive. When repeatedly flooded with an artificial
opiate, the brain eventually stops producing its own opiates, endorphins, which can lead to
overdose to relieve pain.
-Sleeping Pills
-Tranquilizers
-GHB: “club drug” produces loss of inhibition, increased sex drive, relaxation.

12. 25.2 – Identify the depressants, and describe their effects.
Psychological Effects:
-mild euphoria
-talkativeness
-friendliness
-reduces inhibitions and self-control
-causes aggressiveness and violence
-impairs judgement

13. 25.3 – Identify the stimulants, and describe their effects.
Physical Effects on the Brain and Body
-speed up the activity of the nervous system.
-increase the release of neurotransmitters norepinephrine
(arousal) and dopamine (pleasure).

14. 25.3 – Identify the stimulants, and describe their effects.
Examples:
-Caffeine: increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to
provide energy.
-Nicotine: increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to provide
energy.
-Cocaine: induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash. Crack, a form of cocaine, can
be smoked. Other forms of cocaine can be sniffed or injected.
-Methamphetamine: triggers the release of dopamine, which enhances energy and mood.
Aftereffects include irritability, depression, insomnia, seizures, and violent outbursts.
-Ecstasy: (or methylenedioxymethamphetamine – MDMA) is a stimulant and mild
hallucinogen. It produces a euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing neurons,
which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory.

15. 25.3 – Identify the stimulants, and describe their effects.
Psychological Effects:
-increases mental alertness.
-reduce fatigue.
-produce stimulant-induced psychosis-schizophrenia-like
symptoms, hallucinations.

18. 25.4 – Identify the hallucinogens, and describe their effects.
Physical Effects on the Brain and Body
-also called psychedelics (mind-manifesting).
-similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates
moods and perceptions.

19. 25.4 – Identify the hallucinogens, and describe their effects.
Examples:
-LSD: (or lysergic acid diethylamide) powerful hallucinogenic drug that is
also known as acid. Near death experience: an altered state of
consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-
induced hallucinations.
-Marijuana: THC is the major active ingredient in marijuana that triggers a
variety of effects, including mild hallucinations. Marijuana also relaxes and
disinhibits, impairs motor coordination, perceptual skills, and reaction time,
disrupts memory formation and recall.
-Ketamine
-Mescaline

20. 25.4 – Identify the hallucinogens, and describe their effects.
Psychological Effects
-create loss of contact from reality.
-after emotion, perception, thought; produce hallucinations:
hearing, seeing things that are not real.