Download Androgen insensitivity syndrome

Drugs and the brain
WB, JM, EW, BB
Hallucinogens!
Hallucinogenic short term effects
• Mood Swings
• hallucinations (that is, stationary objects appear to be
moving)
• Heightened, and distorted senses
• Distortion of depth and time perception
• psychological or emotional effects such as anxiety,
depression, dizziness, disorientation and paranoia
• A sensation of “crossing over”, where users have a
sensation of hearing colors and seeing sounds.
• “Crossing over” is usually associated with bad trips
where users fear a loss of control and have fears of
death and despair.
Long Term Effects
• A growing tolerance to the drug which
promotes higher dosage over time.
• short-lived, intense re-experiences of part
of a previous trip which can occur days or
even months after the last dose has been
taken, leading to disorientation, anxiety
and distress.
• Prolonged anxiety and depression.
Why?
• What hallucinogenic drugs do to cause these
effects are hazy, but studies lead to the
conclusion that it mainly effect two regions: The
cerebral cortex and the locus ceruleus.
• The cerebral cortex controls perception and
mood, while the locus ceruleus revieves sensory
signals from the body, explaining the mood
swings (cerebral cortex) and hallucinations
(locus ceruleus).
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception
Disorder
• The “flash back” effects of LSD remains a
mystery still.
• The experience is basically a parallel of
the original trip, and can occur even if the
user has only used LSD once.
• It may include persisting sensory
distortion, such as false motion, light
flashes, and trails on moving objects.
THC
Effects of THC on the Nervous System
Here’s the effects:
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Reduced pain
Lower body temp
Enhanced appetite
Anti-convulsant
Anti-inflammatory
Bronchodilatory
Heres why:
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THC acts on the
Endocannababnoid receptors as
an inhibitor.
In effect this inhibits the formation
of cyclic AMP which blocks
calcium flow and disrupts the
production of an action potential.
Cyclic AMP and calcium regulate
neurotransmitters such as
Dopamine and Acetylcholine.
The slowing of these transmitters
causes the mellowing effects that
Marijuana smokers feel.
Increased appetite and body temperature:
• CB1(endocannabinoids) receptors are found in
the thalamus, hippocampus, cortex, and
cerebellum.
• The inhibitory effects in the cerebellum cause
the decreased motor functions during a high.
• It also effects the receptors of the thalamus and
hypothalamus which are thermoregulatory
systems of the body and also play a role in
appetite.
Ruffies
Effects of Rophynol
• Ruffies is a benzodiazepine (such as Valium, Halcyon,
Xanax). Ruffies are about 10 times more potent than
Valium.
• The benzodiazepines influence behavior by interacting
with receptors on neurons in the brain that use the
neurotransmitter called GABA. When GABA binds to
receptors, it usually inhibits a neuron and acts to reduce
neuronal activity. When benzodiazepines attach to GABA
receptors, they increase GABA binding to other
receptors. In this way, benzodiazepines enhance the
effects of GABA and reduce brain activity.
Cocaine
Effects
• When cocaine is used it interferes with the reabsorption
of dopamine producing a euphoric effect. The drug traps
an excess amount of dopamine in the brain, causing an
elevated sense of well being.
• Dopamine has many functions in the brain, including
important roles in behavior and cognition, voluntary
movement, motivation and reward, sleep, mood,
attention, and learning
• Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain,
including the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental
area, both areas of which are located in the mid brain.
SOURCES
• http://faculty.washington.edu
• http://serendip.brynmawr.edu
• http://alcoholism.about.com