Brain chemicals and Drugs

Acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory (Alzhimers/Myasthenia gravis)

Dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion (too much- schizophrenia. not enough- parkinsons)

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal (Fight or flight)

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Lessens the ability for signals to be sent to the brain (prevents tremors or seizures)

Glutamate

Linked to memory and migraines

Endorphins

natural pain killers created by brain, promotes pain relief, like morphine

Substance P

pain perception

Adrenaline

Fight or flight

Oxytocin

Boosts social bonds (child birth chemical)

Depressants

A drug that slows reactions and impairs judgment 

Stimulants

A drug that increases heart rate and alertness 

Hallucinogens

Dopamine agonists- induces delusions and hallucinations  

Tolerance

Needing more of a substance to feel it as a result of regular usage

Addiction

Needing a substance to the point where it impacts life  

Withdrawal

Physical symptoms of quitting a substance

Agonists “counterfit”

Medication that replicates a chemical the brain isn’t making enough of  

Antagonists

Blocks receptors to prevent overproduced chemicals from being processed 

Reuptake Inhibitors

Blocks reuptake for specific chemicals to increase levels

Myasthenia Gravis

Acetylcholine deficiency- Motor skills are lost because the immune system attacks the muscles  

Multiple Sclerosis

Axon insulation deteriorates- Loss of motor skills because signals can no longer get through the axon to the brain