Psychology condense 3 p 14 -21 Opiates and Stimulants Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the uses of hallucinogens in medical treatment?

To improve sleep quality

To enhance emotions

To relieve pain and nausea (correct)

To increase energy levels

What is homeostasis primarily related to in the body?

Promoting faster recovery from injuries

Enhancing cognitive abilities

Maintaining stable emotional states

Regulating bodily functions like temperature and heart rate (correct)

How does the brain respond when a regular drug user anticipates a dose of drugs?

It heightens emotional sensitivity

It releases more serotonin

It increases energy levels

It lowers the heart rate in preparation (correct)

Which route of drug entry is the slowest?

Oral (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of taking the same level of drugs in a new location?

Possible overdose (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and the reward pathway in the brain?

Dopamine (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which brain area is involved in controlling motor functions and receives dopamine from the VTA?

Nucleus accumbens (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can indicate a potential substance use disorder?

Increased usage over time (B), Stronger cravings (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which opiates relieve pain?

They act on endorphin receptor sites (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of prolonged drug use regarding dosage?

Need for higher doses over time (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role does tolerance play in substance dependence?

It indicates a decrease in substance effect over time (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the effects of cocaine?

It releases excessive amounts of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of detoxification in treating addiction?

To address physiological and psychological symptoms (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which medication helps reduce cravings and eases withdrawal for opiate addiction?

Methadone (D) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes stimulants from depressants in their mechanism of action?

Stimulants increase neural activity. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in addiction treatment?

To alter cognitive and behavioral patterns related to addiction (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which substance is noted for also causing hallucinations along with its stimulant effects?

Ecstasy (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of inpatient treatment for addiction?

The patient resides at a hospital or treatment facility (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common withdrawal symptom from nicotine use?

Insomnia (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does LSD primarily induce hallucinations?

By interfering with serotonin transmission (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does motivational interviewing assist in treating addiction?

It works to find intrinsic motivation for change (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of a 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous?

Emphasis on acceptance and active involvement in meetings (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following effects is NOT associated with long-term use of amphetamines?

Increased ability to maintain dopamine levels (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary active chemical in marijuana known for its effects?

THC (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the spotlight model of attention primarily focus on?

Selective attention to specific stimuli (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is priming in the context of attention?

A process where one stimulus affects the response to another (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does task similarity affect multitasking?

It can impede performance on similar tasks (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an automatic task?

Driving after years of experience (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory lasts for a very short duration and involves visual input?

Iconic memory (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the information processing model, which memory is used for actively thinking about information?

Working memory (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the information processing model, what role does the central executive play?

Coordinating verbal and visual information (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to by the 'magic number 7' in memory theory?

The limit of information that can be held in working memory (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is selective attention primarily responsible for?

Reacting to certain stimuli selectively as they occur (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cue does not require internal knowledge to understand?

Exogenous cues (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon where individuals fail to notice changes in their environment?

Change blindness (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to Broadbent's Early Selection Theory, where does the selective filter occur?

At the sensory register stage (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does Treisman's Attenuation Theory suggest about unattended stimuli?

They are weakened but not eliminated in processing. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In which task are individuals asked to repeat what they hear in one ear while ignoring the other?

Shadowing task (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'cocktail party effect' illustrate in terms of attention?

The ability to discern a specific voice among others (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to Deutsch & Deutsch's Late Selection Theory, where does the selective filter occur?

After assigning meaning to stimuli (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does tolerance in drug use indicate?

Increased amounts of the drug are needed to achieve the same effect. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter decreases during increased drug use?

Serotonin (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is critical in saying an experience was enjoyable?

Amygdala (C) Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is likely when a person experiences withdrawal symptoms?

They may feel depressed and anxious. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in the mesolimbic pathway?

It focuses attention on drugs and stimuli. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes intoxication?

The behavioral and psychological effects caused by drug use. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these substances does NOT fall under the category of addictive drugs?

Essential oils (B) Signup and view all the answers

What can prolonged use of drugs lead to?

Substance-induced disorders. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Opiates

Used to treat pain and anxiety.
Examples include heroin and morphine.
Not a depressant.
Work by acting on endorphin receptors in the body.
Different from depressants, despite overlapping effects on anxiety and rest.
Depressants act on GABA receptors.
Lead to a feeling of euphoria, which is why they are used recreationally.

Stimulants

Increase or intensify neural and bodily functions.
Range from caffeine to cocaine and amphetamines/methamphetamines, to ecstasy and nicotine.
Caffeine inhibits adenosine receptors, impacting sleep.
Nicotine disrupts sleep and decreases appetite.
At high levels, nicotine can relax muscles and release stress-reducing neurotransmitters, countering hyper-alertness.
All stimulants, including cocaine, create heightened levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
Cocaine's intense stimulation can deplete the brain's supply of these neurotransmitters, causing a significant crash and depression after the high wears off.
Cocaine use can lead to dangerous side effects, including suspicion, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and cardiac failure in regular users.
Amphetamines and methamphetamines also increase dopamine levels, leading to euphoria lasting up to 8 hours.
All stimulants are highly addictive, causing withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and irritability.

Hallucinogens

Cause hallucinations and altered perceptions.
Some have medical uses.
Ecstasy is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen, raising dopamine and serotonin levels to create euphoria.
Damage to serotonin-producing neurons can affect mood regulation.
Ecstasy causes hallucinations and heightened sensations, like an artificial feeling of social connectedness.

LSD

Interferes with serotonin, causing hallucinations.
Hallucinations are typically visual rather than auditory.
Marijuana also acts as a mild hallucinogen.
Its main active chemical, THC, heightens sensitivity to sounds, tastes, and smells.
Like alcohol, Marijuana reduces inhibition and impairs motor skills and coordination.
Can have disruptive effects on memory formation and short-term recall.
Hallucinogens can last in the body up to a week.
Some are used as medicine to reduce pain and nausea, especially in PTSD treatment, to help sufferers detach from painful memories.

Drug Dependence and Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the body's ability to regulate factors like temperature, heart rate, and metabolism.
Drugs like amphetamines disrupt homeostasis; the body actively tries to return to normal.
Regular drug users tend to take them around the same time each day.
In addiction, the brain recognizes cues from surroundings, preparing the body for a drug (e.g. the location, tools, environment etcetera) before it's ingested, leading to heightened effects and higher doses needed over time for the same high.
Without the drug, after a period of abuse, the body will crash.

Routes of Drug Entry

Oral ingestion is the slowest route, taking about half an hour.
Inhalation, like smoking or breathing in fumes, reaches the brain quickly (within 10 seconds).
Injection directly into veins is the fastest, taking place within seconds.
Transdermal (patches) deliver drugs slowly over hours.
Intramuscular routes, like vaccines, deliver drugs at varying speeds, quickly or slowly.

Reward Pathway in the Brain

Dopamine is released in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) when an individual experiences pleasure.
Signals are sent to the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus for positive reinforcement.
Different stimuli trigger variable responses in this circuitry and in the different brain areas involved.
Dopamine plays a crucial role in feelings of satiation and contentment.
Biological reasons for addiction have been found in animal models; for example, rats taking more drugs and/or increases in drug dosage over time.
Addiction overrides rational thinking.

Tolerance and Withdrawal

Tolerance is the body’s adaptation to a drug, requiring increasingly higher doses for the same effect.
Post-synaptic neurons reduce dopamine receptors; this reduces the drug’s impact and the pleasure derived.
With certain drugs, after a prolonged period of no drug use, users experience withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and/or psychosis.
The body's attempts to return to a normal state.

Drug Dependence and Substance Use Disorders

Drug use can lead to substance-use disorders.
This could impact the person's life and performance in areas including their work, school, or home life.
Withdrawal symptoms are common in long-term drug users.
Drug use can lead to disorders in mood, anxiety, sleep, and psychosis.
Substances, even in smaller amounts, can negatively impact the user.

Treatments and Triggers

Treatments address both physical and psychological symptoms.
Detoxification is a common first step.
Medications can help address symptoms, like reducing cravings, easing withdrawal, or reducing drug effects.
Alcoholics may be treated with medications that block alcohol receptors in the brain, reducing withdrawal symptoms.
Certain medications can be used to prevent relapses.

Attention

Divided attention is when users try to do two tasks at a time, shifting between them.
Selective attention lets people focus on certain stimuli/cues while filtering out others.
Exogenous cues draw attention without conscious effort; loud noises, or bright colors.
Endogenous cues rely on prior knowledge or intent; hearing one’s name, or an arrow.
Inattentional blindness refers to the inability to see a visible stimulus when the mind is focused elsewhere.
Change blindness is an inability to notice changes in an environment.
Broadbent's theory focused on early filtering of outside sensory information.
Deutsh and Deutsh's theory focused on later filtering, after the information has been processed.
Treisman's approach suggested an attenuating filter that reduces but doesn't eliminate unattended events, which could have influence on perceptual processing in tasks.
Spotlight model says attention is a limited resource that can be focused on particular events and ignores or reduces the impact of less relevant or important information.

Encoding Strategies

Encoding transforms sensory information into memory.
Rote rehearsal involves repetition.
Chunking groups related information into meaningful units.
Mnemonic devices use imagery or acronyms to aid memory.
Self-referencing relates information to personal experiences.
Spacing out study sessions improves memory retention.

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Description

This quiz covers the effects and characteristics of opiates and stimulants. It explores how these substances interact with the body's receptors and their impact on mental and physical functions. Learn about the distinctions between these classes of drugs and their recreational uses.