What impact do they have on human behavior?

1
Neurochemicals
P.E.T. Scan

• What impact do they have on human behavior?

2
What is a neuron?

• Neurons are basic cells of the brain.
• Neurons send receive messages

3
Dendrites-Fibers that receive impulse
Dendrite
Nucleus
Cell Body
Nucleus- brain of the cell body
Axon
Axon -tube like nerve conductors
Synapse
Synapse- small gap between neurons. A chemical
change occurs here
4
Neurotransmission

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vysDGX6bOgAw

5
What are Neurotransmitters?

• Chemicals that carry messages throughout the
  brain.
• Neurotransmitters influence
• behavior
• memory
• and intelligence.

http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/r
eward/neurontalk.html
6
How can neurotransmitters affect the brain?

• Serotonin affects mood and behavior.
• An imbalance can result in depression.

• Prozac supplements the brains supply of
  Serotonin.

7
How do illegal drugs impact the brain?

• LSD heightens the effect of serotonin in the
  brain.
• Cocaine increases the amount of Dopamine
• Ecstasy( MDMA) slows the breakdown of serotonin.
• http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
  rugs/cerebral.htm
• l

8
IMPACT OF DRUGS
MRI-COCAINE
MDMA- NEURONS
9
Illegal Drug Use
Physical Dependence

• Psychoactive Drugs alter brains chemical makeup.
• Brain produces less of these chemicals
• User must increase dose or drug to get high

10
Environmental Factors
11
Other Drugs

• Neuroscience