Neuron AnatomyNeuron Anatomy

NeuronsNeurons

Neuron Neuron is a nerve cell that is a nerve cell that communicates with the entire body communicates with the entire body (glands, muscles…).(glands, muscles…).

Cell BodyCell Body produces energy for the produces energy for the cell to be active.cell to be active.

DendritesDendrites are thin fibers that are thin fibers that receive information from other receive information from other neurons and pass the message to the neurons and pass the message to the Cell Body.Cell Body.

NeuronsNeurons

The The axon axon carries messages carries messages awayaway. . Axons vary in size from a fraction of Axons vary in size from a fraction of an inch to many feet.an inch to many feet.

MyelinMyelin is a white fatty substances is a white fatty substances that protects the axon and to speed that protects the axon and to speed up the message delivery process.up the message delivery process.

Axon TerminalsAxon Terminals are the tiny fibers are the tiny fibers at the end of the axon that branch at the end of the axon that branch out.out.

SynapseSynapse

The junction between the axon The junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and the terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another. This is where dendrites of another. This is where messages are shared. messages are shared.

There is only one direction that There is only one direction that messages can go and the dendrites messages can go and the dendrites always receive.always receive.

NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters

- A chemical that crosses the synaptic cleft A chemical that crosses the synaptic cleft b/w nerve cells to transmit impulses from b/w nerve cells to transmit impulses from one neuron to another. Their relative one neuron to another. Their relative excess or deficiency is involved in several excess or deficiency is involved in several psychological disorders.psychological disorders.

- 4 main Neurotransmitters:- 4 main Neurotransmitters:

Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters

SerotoninSerotonin

involved in processing info and involved in processing info and coordination of movements as well coordination of movements as well as inhibition and restraint. It also as inhibition and restraint. It also assists in the regulation of eating, assists in the regulation of eating, sexual and aggressive behaviors.sexual and aggressive behaviors.

- The interaction of serotonin and - The interaction of serotonin and dopamine is implicated in dopamine is implicated in Schizophrenia.Schizophrenia.

NorepinephrineNorepinephrine

Active in the CNS and PNS controlling Active in the CNS and PNS controlling heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate, blood pressure and respiration (and other functions).respiration (and other functions).

- Because of it- Because of it’’s role in body s role in body regulations, NPP may have a part in regulations, NPP may have a part in panic attacks, anxiety and mood panic attacks, anxiety and mood disorders.disorders.

DopamineDopamine

Activates other Neurotransmitters as Activates other Neurotransmitters as a general function, but also aids in a general function, but also aids in exploratory and pleasure – seeking exploratory and pleasure – seeking behaviors (thus balancing Serotonin).behaviors (thus balancing Serotonin).

- An excess is implicated in - An excess is implicated in Schizophrenia and a deficit is Schizophrenia and a deficit is involved in Parkinsoninvolved in Parkinson’’s Disease.s Disease.

GABAGABA

Reduces activity across the synaptic Reduces activity across the synaptic cleft and thus inhibits a range of cleft and thus inhibits a range of behaviors, emotions and especially behaviors, emotions and especially anxiety.anxiety.

One way to affect synaptic transmission is One way to affect synaptic transmission is to increase the amount of to increase the amount of neurotransmitter that is released into the neurotransmitter that is released into the synaptic space. Drugs like alcohol, heroin, synaptic space. Drugs like alcohol, heroin, and nicotine excite the dopamine-and nicotine excite the dopamine-containing neurons in the ventral containing neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) so that they produce tegmental area (VTA) so that they produce more action potentials. As the number of more action potentials. As the number of action potentials increases, so does the action potentials increases, so does the amount of dopamine released into the amount of dopamine released into the synapse. synapse.

Amphetamines (e.g., Amphetamines (e.g., methamphetamine, crystal, crank) methamphetamine, crystal, crank) actually cause the release of actually cause the release of dopamine from the vesicles. This is dopamine from the vesicles. This is independent of the rate of action independent of the rate of action potentials and, depending on dose, potentials and, depending on dose, can cause a relatively quick and can cause a relatively quick and prolonged rise of extracellular prolonged rise of extracellular dopamine levels. dopamine levels.

Abusive DrugsAbusive Drugs

Depressants – decreases the activity of Depressants – decreases the activity of the Central Nervous System, thus the Central Nervous System, thus reducing the levels of physiological reducing the levels of physiological arousal.arousal.

- Benzodiazepines: Rohypnol (roofy), Benzodiazepines: Rohypnol (roofy), Valium Valium

- Barbiturates: hypnoticsBarbiturates: hypnotics- Sedatives, anxiolutics, and alcoholSedatives, anxiolutics, and alcohol

AlcoholAlcohol Low levels of alcohol tend to start by Low levels of alcohol tend to start by

decreasing activity of the inhibitory decreasing activity of the inhibitory nervous system, particularly in the frontal nervous system, particularly in the frontal lobe.lobe.

As drinking continues, the suppression As drinking continues, the suppression effect spreads to other parts of the brain effect spreads to other parts of the brain and body causing symptoms of and body causing symptoms of intoxication and can affect vision and intoxication and can affect vision and hearing.hearing.

At high levels, alcohol can suppress brain At high levels, alcohol can suppress brain stem functions: breathing and respiration stem functions: breathing and respiration = alcohol poisoning= alcohol poisoning

AlcoholAlcohol

Withdrawl: hand temors, nausea and Withdrawl: hand temors, nausea and vomiting, transient hallucinations, vomiting, transient hallucinations, agitation, insomnia are the most agitation, insomnia are the most common.common.

Long-term use can damage the liver, Long-term use can damage the liver, pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease and brain damage (Wernickeand brain damage (Wernicke’’s s disease: confusion, loss of muscle disease: confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and garbled speech.coordination, and garbled speech.

Abusive DrugsAbusive Drugs

Stimulants – increase alertness, can Stimulants – increase alertness, can induce feelings of vigor and reduce induce feelings of vigor and reduce fatigue.fatigue.

- CaffeineCaffeine- CocaineCocaine- NicotineNicotine- Amphetamines: Ritalin, MDMAAmphetamines: Ritalin, MDMA

Amphetamines and cocaine act Amphetamines and cocaine act directly on dopamine, GABA neurons directly on dopamine, GABA neurons help to inhibit other neurons and help to inhibit other neurons and some drugs act to reduce GABA, some drugs act to reduce GABA, permitting the pleasure pathway permitting the pleasure pathway neurons to fire more frequently neurons to fire more frequently (opiates).(opiates).

OpiatesOpiates

Our brains produce natural substances Our brains produce natural substances similar to the characteristics of opiates similar to the characteristics of opiates (endorphines).(endorphines).

Opiates induce euphoria, drowsiness, and Opiates induce euphoria, drowsiness, and slowed respiration which can be fatal at a slowed respiration which can be fatal at a high dose.high dose.

- morphine, codeine and heroin.morphine, codeine and heroin.

Withdrawals are very unpleasant.Withdrawals are very unpleasant.

Case Study: Opioid DependencyCase Study: Opioid Dependency

1)1) Select 3 issues or events from MatthewSelect 3 issues or events from Matthew’’s s life that you believe to have contributed life that you believe to have contributed to his addiction. *Include a defense on to his addiction. *Include a defense on why you chose that issue or event.why you chose that issue or event.

2)2) Explain the difference between abuse Explain the difference between abuse and dependence. Include an example for and dependence. Include an example for each and the definitions of tolerance and each and the definitions of tolerance and withdrawal.withdrawal.

3)3) What are the pros and cons to the use of What are the pros and cons to the use of Methadone as Heroin treatment? Do you Methadone as Heroin treatment? Do you agree with this method?agree with this method?

Case Study: Class DiscussionCase Study: Class Discussion

- The 4 most frequently used - The 4 most frequently used substances in our society are alcohol, substances in our society are alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and caffeine. All tobacco, marijuana and caffeine. All of these are legal substances, but of these are legal substances, but one. Based on what criteria do you one. Based on what criteria do you think some substances should be think some substances should be legal and others illegal?legal and others illegal?

Essential QuestionEssential Question

How can knowledge of brain How can knowledge of brain functions (including the effects of functions (including the effects of substances) impact your life and substances) impact your life and decision?decision?

- What did you learn and how will - What did you learn and how will you use it?you use it?

Review: NeurotransmittersReview: Neurotransmitters 1) Attention, Motivation, Pleasure __________1) Attention, Motivation, Pleasure __________ 2) Obsessions, Mood, Anxiety ___________2) Obsessions, Mood, Anxiety ___________ 3) Reduces activity across the synaptic cleft, and 3) Reduces activity across the synaptic cleft, and

inhibits a variety of emotions, especially anxiety.inhibits a variety of emotions, especially anxiety. ________________________________________________________________ 4) Involved with coordination of muscles, 4) Involved with coordination of muscles,

information processing, as well as inhibition and information processing, as well as inhibition and restraint.restraint.

__________________________________________________________________________ 5) Alertness and Energy _________________5) Alertness and Energy _________________ 6) __________is a drug similar to substances that 6) __________is a drug similar to substances that

are already present within the human body.are already present within the human body. __________________________________________________________________________________

7) Active in the Central NS and Peripheral NS 7) Active in the Central NS and Peripheral NS by controlling respiration and heart rate. by controlling respiration and heart rate. ____________________

8) Cocaine and Amphetamines act directly on 8) Cocaine and Amphetamines act directly on this:. ___________________this:. ___________________

9) A deficit of this Neurotransmitter is 9) A deficit of this Neurotransmitter is suggested as a cause of Parkinsonsuggested as a cause of Parkinson’’s Disease.s Disease.

________________________________________________________________________ 10) The interaction with dopamine is 10) The interaction with dopamine is

implicated in Schizophrenia. implicated in Schizophrenia. ____________________________________________________________

11) Because of it11) Because of it’’s role in body regulations, it s role in body regulations, it is suggested that this Neurotransmitter may is suggested that this Neurotransmitter may have a part in panic attacks, anxiety, and have a part in panic attacks, anxiety, and mood disorders. _______________mood disorders. _______________

12) This drug decreases the level of activity of 12) This drug decreases the level of activity of the CNS. _______________the CNS. _______________

DrugsDrugs

OpiatesOpiates

DepressantsDepressants

StimulantsStimulants

DrugsDrugs

CocaineCocaine

CaffeineCaffeine

AlcoholAlcohol

NicotineNicotine

Heroin Heroin

Crystal MethCrystal Meth

RitalinRitalin

ValiumValium

RohypnolRohypnol

MorphineMorphine

MDMA MDMA

CodeineCodeine

BenzodiazepineBenzodiazepine

DrugsDrugs OpiatesOpiates HeroinHeroin MorphineMorphine CodeineCodeine

DepressantsDepressants AlcoholAlcohol ValiumValium Benzodiazepine Benzodiazepine RohypnolRohypnol

StimulantsStimulants MDMA MDMA CocaineCocaine CaffeineCaffeine NicotineNicotine Crystal MethCrystal Meth RitalinRitalin

Long AnswerLong Answer

1)1) Explain the process in which a message Explain the process in which a message travels through the body in relation to travels through the body in relation to psychology; include the parts of the body psychology; include the parts of the body that are needed and how they work that are needed and how they work together and separate.together and separate.

2)2) Explain the process of Alcohol in relation Explain the process of Alcohol in relation to psychology, include the parts of the to psychology, include the parts of the body and brain that are affected and how. body and brain that are affected and how. Also include short-term and long-term Also include short-term and long-term affects of abuse.affects of abuse.

Long AnswerLong Answer

3) 3) Explain the connections between Explain the connections between addictions and psychology including addictions and psychology including the roles of puberty, serotonin, and the roles of puberty, serotonin, and dopamine. Include a substance dopamine. Include a substance example.example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3gfzfqEre0v=K3gfzfqEre0