Psychology: Addiction and Stress Effects

Addiction and the Brain

• Dopamine is crucial to addiction, triggering intense pleasure from drugs.
• Drug use initially floods the brain with dopamine, but prolonged use reduces dopamine receptors, impacting pleasure and leading to impulsive behavior.
• Examples include nicotine addiction, where the brain learns to associate pleasure with the drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms like cravings.
• Stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine increase dopamine, creating euphoria. Instant gratification from meth is immediate, while snorting is slower.

Stress and Mental Health

• Stress can be positive (encouraging adaptation) or chronic (harming body systems).
• Chronic stress impacts body systems and can lead to severe health problems like heart disease and depression.
• Stress response in teens causes exaggerated emotional reactions.
• Coping strategies include recognizing stress signals, deep breathing, exercise, and maintaining healthy relationships.
• Exercise reduces stress hormones and improves mood, examples like soccer or gym activities.

Sleep and Its Importance

• Sleep consolidates memories, repairs the body, and regulates metabolism.
• Lack of sleep impacts learning, increases risky behavior, and worsens mental health.
• Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep for optimal functioning; lack thereof leads to irritability and reduced focus.
• Circadian rhythm influences sleep-wake cycles based on light exposure. Teens often have delayed sleep patterns, conflicting with early school schedules.
• Study advice: Avoid cramming; sleep is essential for memory transfer.

Physical Activity and Brain Development

• Exercise immediately improves memory, reduces disease risk, and promotes sleep.
• Long-term benefits include improved cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and neuroplasticity (brain adaptability).
• The hippocampus generates new neurons during physical activity, improving learning and memory.
• Repeated practice strengthens neural pathways, forming habits in the basal ganglia.
• Examples include sports like soccer, requiring coordination and becoming automatic with practice.

Nutrition and Brain Function

• A balanced diet is essential for brain function; the brain needs glucose and hydration.
• Skipping meals, like breakfast, can hinder focus and memory.
• Prolonged malnutrition can affect emotional health and cognitive abilities.
• Eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, can cause brain shrinkage and long-term cognitive impairment.
• Eating disorders affect nearly 30 million Americans.

Safety and Preventive Measures

• Helmet use protects the brain during activities like biking and ATV riding.
• Improper helmet use leads to traumatic brain injuries.
• North Carolina mandates ATV safety courses for under-16s, emphasizing helmet use.
• Distracted driving, such as texting, increases crash risk significantly.
• Texting while driving in NC is a concern, exceeding the national average.
• Five seconds of inattention at 55 mph equals a football field's length, increasing risk.

Senses, Memory, and the Brain

• Sensory neurons send signals to brain regions (e.g., vision to the occipital lobe).
• Reflexes protect the body immediately, bypassing the brain.
• Smell directly links to the limbic system, affecting emotional memories.
• Memory formation involves encoding, storage, and retrieval.
• Repeated activity strengthens neural pathways, supporting the "use it or lose it" principle.
• Studying consistently, instead of cramming, creates stronger neural connections.

This quiz covers the impact of addiction on the brain, focusing on dopamine's role and the consequences of prolonged drug use. It also explores the effects of stress on mental health, including both positive and chronic stress, and offers coping strategies for managing stress effectively.