Download Students know

Human Physiology
The impact of stimulants on brain
chemistry
Standards
 9a. Students know how the complementary activity of major body
systems provides cells with oxygen and nutrients and removes toxic
waste products such as carbon dioxide.
• 9b.Students know how the nervous system mediates communication
between different parts of the body and the body’s interactions with
the environment.
• 9d.Students know the functions of the nervous system and the role
of neurons in transmitting electrochemical impulses.
• 9e.Students know the roles of sensory neurons, interneurons, and
motor neurons in sensation, thought, and response
Objectives:
• Understand the function of the nervous
system.
• Explain how the nervous system maintains
homeostasis.
• Explain how the nervous sends messages
and communicates with different parts of
the body.
• Understand the impact of depressants and
stimulants on brain chemistry and function.
Why is the brain so important?
• Brain-controls nervous system, maintains
normal function of the body, contains 100
billion neurons
What are stimulants?
• Drugs change how the brain works, by
changing the number of action potentials
(nerve impulses) that are generated.
• Stimulants-drugs that increase the number
of action potentials (nerve impulses) that
neurons generate by increasing the
amount of neurotransmitters in the
synapses.
Methamphetamines
• An addictive stimulant that is closely related to
amphetamine, but has longer lasting and more
toxic effects on the central nervous system. It
has a high potential for abuse and addiction.
• Speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, glass.
• Increases wakefulness and physical activity and
decreases appetite. Chronic, long-term use can
lead to psychotic behavior, hallucinations, and
stroke.
Methamphetamines Stats
• In 2006, 1.9 million Americans age 12 and older
had abused methamphetamine at least once in
the year prior to being surveyed. Source:
National Survey on Drug Use and Health;
http://www.samhsa.gov/. The NIDA-funded 2007
Monitoring the Future Study showed that 1.1%
of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th graders, and 1.7%
of 12th graders had abused methamphetamine
at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
Source: Monitoring the Future
http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/.
Crystal Meth
Stimulants-Cocaine
• Obtained from the leaves of the coco plant
• Acts on neurons (pleasure centers of brain)
• Causes the release of dopamine and serotonin (normally
released when a basic need is fulfilled)
• Depletes supply of dopamine, leads to depression and a
need for more of the drug
• Overdose-heart attacks, kidney failure, seizures, strokes,
coma, and death.
• Long term effects on brain-seizures, bleeding of the
brain, permanent brain damage, psychosis and
hallucinations, changes structure of the brain
Cocaine’s Impact on the Brain
Stimulants-Ecstasy
• MDMA-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
• Causes the brain’s neurons to release serotonin, a
neurotransmitter
• Produces a feeling of euphoria and calm, heightened
sensitivity to stimuli (touch, colors, lights)
• Overdose-Overheating of the body, liver, heart, kidney,
and brain damage, seizures, strokes
• Long term effects on the brain-Wrong “rewiring” of the
brain, paranoia, depression, impaired memory,
hallucination, difficulty learning, permanent brain
damage, seizures
Ecstasy’s Impact on the Brain
Summary Questions
• What are stimulants?
• How do stimulants impact how the brain
functions?
• What are the long terms effects of
cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamines
on the brain?