Download Brain and drugs

Ondřej Kaman, Petr Popo Popelka
Table of contents
Introduction
 Key words
 Brain
 Drugs






Ecstasy
Marijuana
Nicotine
Alcohol
Summary
Introduction
We have decided to focus on brain and
drug effects on it, because it joins both our
interests in biology and psychology.
 It is also a good thing to know, how drugs
work and affect people's behaviour, not
only to learn about their bad effects.
 We think, that it is important to remember,
that drugs damage the brain and we should
know something about the process itself.

Keywords
Eufory
Euforie
Protein
Bílkovina
Vigilance
Bdělost
Cellbody
Buněčné tělo
Salient
Výběžek
Shock
Vzruch
Synaptic ganglia
Synaptická uzlina
Nervous system
Nervová soustava
Respiratory system
Dýchací soustava
Brain and Neurons
The brain is directive and intergrative
organum of the nervous system – it
directs and takes control of all body
functions
 Neurons

 Nerve cells
 Transfer information within the brain and
transmit them into the whole body
 Impulses and neurotrasmiters transfer the
information
Structure of Neuron


Cell body with nucleus
Salients
 Dendrites - the short ones
○ Get impulses from other
neurons
 Axon - the long one
○ Gives impulses to other
neurons
○ Synaptic ganglia
 Sacs including
neurotrasmitters

Synapse
 The free space between
synaptic ganglia and dendrite
Transfer of information



Impulse goes through
the whole neuron from
dendrite to the
synapse
When the impulse
reaches the sacs, the
neurotransmitters are
released into the
synapse
Neurotransmitters
sweep across the
synapse and bind to
the receptors on
dendrite
The return of the neurotransmitters

1) REUPTAKE
PROTEINS
 The neurotrasmitters
go back to the
synaptic ganglia and
are
reabsorbed thanks to
the reuptake proteins

2) MAO PROTEINS
 The neurotrasmitters
are absorbed by MAO
proteins
 In the sacs are
generated new
neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters








Adrenalin (heartbeating, alertness)
Dopamin (hapinnes, satisfaction)
Serotonin (memory, taste, body
temperature)
GABA (silences other neurotransmitters)
Substance P (pain)
Endorfin (pain suppresion)
Acetylcholin (communication between
brain and muscles)
Anandamid (coordination)
Ecstasy
Increases serotonin, adrenalin
 Blocks reuptake protein
Consequences:
 euphoric feelings
 Increase body temperature (overheating)
 Depressions
 Keeps people awake

Marijuana
THC - the psychoactive substance
 Anandamid, GABA - Dopamin

THC x anandamid

THC imitates anandamid
Marijuana
THC x dopamine
THC cant affect dopamine by itself
 Feelings of eufory, well-being, pleasant

GABA reduces the dopamine release
THC reduces the GABA release
Nicotin
Nicotin imitates Acetylcholin
 Nicotin stimulates acetylcholin receptors on
dopamin neurons → release dopamin
 Increases release of adrenalin
 glucose is released into the bloodstream

Nicotin
consequences:
 Euphoric feelings
 Affects: intestinal activity, reducing pupil
 Increases: blood pressure, faster heart
rate, breathing rate.
 Nicotine increases the ability to
concentrate
Alcohol

affects dopamine, serotonin, endorphin,
GABA and glutamate
Alcohol x GABA
When alcohol is binded on GABA receptor
at same time → GABA receptor is held for
longer → more inhibitory signals
 alcohol causes, that GABA binds more
frequently → increases the inhibitory effect
of GABA , more impulses

Alcohol
Alcohol
Alcohol x glutamate






when alcohol is binded to glutamate
receptor → changes the shape of receptor
and glutamate can not bind here anymore
consequences:
worsens motor function
increases appetite
reduces the rate of reaction
alleviates pain
Euphoric feelings
Summary
Drugs influence the brain in a lot of ways,
but they almost always use chemical
substances that our brain uses every day
to attach normal body functions.
 The drugs' influence are negative, they
bring false feelings, slow down reactions
and limit some brain functions.
 Drugs also very often damage the brain in
the long term. Depression and similar
negative mental conditions can stay for a
long time after stop using a drugs.
