Psychological Notes on Neurotransmitters and Drug Effects

This collection of flashcards covers essential vocabulary related to neurotransmitters, their effects on the nervous system, and the pharmacological principles underlying drug interaction and addiction.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another, influencing a wide variety of physiological processes.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction and memory, found in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.

Glutamate

The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate nervous system, crucial for synaptic plasticity.

Endocannabinoids

Naturally occurring lipids that bind to cannabinoid receptors, playing a role in modulating neurotransmitter release.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.

Psychoactive Drugs

Substances that affect the mind, mood, or perception, altering mental processes.

CNS Stimulants

Drugs that increase activity in the central nervous system, enhancing alertness and attention.

CNS Depressants

Substances that reduce neural activity and slow down body functions, often prescribed for anxiety or sleep disorders.

Cross-sensitization

The phenomenon where exposure to one drug can sensitize an individual to another, leading to enhanced behavioral responses.

Tolerance

The process in which the body becomes less responsive to a drug over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life in response to learning or injury.

Retrogade Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters that are released from the postsynaptic neuron and travel back to the presynaptic neuron.

Methamphetamine

A powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system by increasing the release of dopamine.

Hallucinogens

Substances that alter perception, mood, and a range of cognitive processes, often causing hallucinations.

Analgesics

Pain-relieving medications that act on the nervous system to alleviate discomfort.

oxytocin

A hormone and neurotransmitter associated with social bonding, reproduction, and childbirth.