How_Do_the_Effects_of_Psychoactive_Drugs_Help_Us_to_Understand_the_Neurochemistry_of_Human_Beings

How do the effects of psychoactive drugs help us to understand the neurochemistry of human behaviour' Why is neurochemistry so important Neurochemistry to my understanding is more specific to the study of neurochemicals and neuro-active drugs, focusing on effects they have within the central nervous system (C.N.S) in addition to behavioural change. Not only this Neurochemists tend to look at what effects psychoactive drugs have, which are chemical substances that act primarily on the C.N.S Which is for the most part what I will be discussing. Looking at cause and effect is essentially what Neurochemists do, I feel that understanding the C.N.S is highly important because in essence is the most important part of the nervous system, especially for maintaining and producing behaviour. So knowledge of specific neurons and lack their of could help prevent or cure certain diseases. Such as .... * If we didn’t have the knowledge of C.N.S or drugs in general we wouldn’t be able to prevent or cure certain diseases that are affecting people modern day * It explains peoples behaviour. * Talk about freud, not understanding certain symptoms. A NEUROTRANSMITTER IS A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE, THIS IS RELEASED FROM A TREMINAL BUTTON AT THE END OF AN AXON. AN AXON SENDS AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO SECRETE THE TRANSMITTER CHEMICAL INTO THE SYNAPSE TO AFFECT THE RECEPTORS EITHER IN AN EXCITORY WAY OR AN INHABITORY WAY AND AS AN END RESULT AFFECTS BEHAVIOUR. DRUGS OFTEN MIMIC NUEROTRANSMITTERS.... THERE A NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS WITHIN THE BRAIN WHICH AL DO VARIOUS THINGS, I WILL GO ON TO TALK ABOUT A NUMBER OF NEUROTRRNASMITTERS SUCH AS... generally say something about the ‘logic’ of understanding behaviour by looking at drug effects. You can then illustrate your answer throughout by reference to concrete examples of how some drugs impact on our neurochemistry * Why is neurochemistry important' * Pick 2-3 examples of neurotransmitters * For each you could describe their purported roles and provide an example of studies which have indicated how these neurochemicals relate to such behavioural indices * dopamine release during rewarding behaviours such as eating, thinking about loved ones, changes in the brains of gamblers or other addicts – highlights function in pleasure (and pain too) * 5-HT has a role in eating, mood, sleep and cognition – what happened when you lower 5-HT levels'