How Does Cocaine Affect The Brain

Cocaine’s mode of action has been shown to involve the dopamine receptors. This paper will discuss how cocaine affects dopamine receptors, the mode of addiction, how cocaine affects the frontal brain metabolic activities, as well as the role of excitatory amino acids in cocaine’s mechanism. I will also discuss how cocaine affects another system through its mechanism on the brain—the renin angiotensin system.

Methamphetamine stimulates different parts of the brain, as shown in figure 2 of a PET scan. In Figure 2 it reveals that a methamphetamine addict has various parts of their brain more stimulated than the control, and other section of their brain were not stimulated. Imaging studies have shown changes in the activity of the dopamine system that are associated with reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning (NIH,2). Methamphetamine affects the parts of the brain that control judgment, reward and memory. In addition, methamphetamine has an effect on the reward system of the brain, which makes the user feel pleasure, which is normally felt through things such as eating, sex, and drinking. Furthermore, Methamphetamine affects the limbic

Cocaine binds to the dopamine reuptake transporters, thus blocking them from functioning. (See web reference (5). for an animation of this process.) As a result, dopamine levels increase in the synapse, and consequently, the receiving neuron is continuously stimulated. This constant firing of the neurons leads to a feeling of euphoria. In addicts, cocaine blocks between 60 and 77 percent of the DAT binding sites; in order to attain a "high," at least 47 percent of the binding sites must be blocked by cocaine. (6).

Cocaine is a stimulant. It affects the neurotransmitter called dopamine. In a normal situation dopamine is a response to pleasure; after the dopamine gets released it is then recycled back into the cell once dopamine has been recycled the feeling of pleasure go’s away. Cocaine is used to prevent dopamine from being recycled, and because it can no longer be recycled large amounts of dopamine build up between neutrons. These high amounts of dopamine disrupts normal brain activity leading to a high

For starters, cocaine physically changes the structure of the nerve cells. After prolonged exposure to cocaine, the cells begin to grow and extend on their respective dendrites (Nestler, 2005). This may sound like a positive reaction to cocaine but it is far from that. The increase in number of dendrites “theoretically will collect a greater volume of nerve cells” which will give the amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal cortex more control over the nucleus accumbens, also known as the reward center in the brain (Kreek, Levran, Reed, Schlussman, Zhou & Butellman, 2012). This physical change can cause the user to recall drug-associate memories, as mentioned before. These alterations unfortunately leave the user with an altered limbic system – causing potential behavioral problems in the future. Cocaine also aids in more than unfavorable physical risks, which include spiked blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature, increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, seizures or respiratory failure. Cocaine has very unpleasant effects when it comes to the user’s heart. After cocaine inhalation, “cocaine is rapidly absorbed through the respiratory tract within seconds to minutes” (Keller, 2003). Not only does cocaine consumption affect the neurotransmitter dopamine, but it also affects the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. The natural presynaptic uptake of norepinephrine is blocked after cocaine is used which increases catecholamine

Cocaine’s mechanism of action includes delaying the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin from reuptake following their release. This contributes to these three neurotransmitters having extended effects and causing a large amount of stimulation. Cocaine can be absorbed at different rates depending on the route of consumption. Specifically, the chewing or sucking of leaves causes gradual absorption and onset of effects. Snorting cocaine contributes to fast absorption and onset of effects. Absorption and the onset of effects occur the fastest when crack is smoked. Outcomes of consuming cocaine include feeling alert, competent, and an increase in energy. However, there are negative effects which include paranoia, restlessness,

But the ways they affect on dopamine are quite different. While amphetamines increase available dopamine by taking up dopamine vesicles, cocaines increase it by blocking off dopamine transporters. As soon as cocaines bind to dopamine transporters, there will be no access for dopamine molecules to return from the synaptic cleft into the presynaptic neuron. They are left out. They can just do what they are supposed to do—to excite their receptors until they are drained. During this period, dopamine molecules are accumulating in their receptors and therefore strengthening the feeling of refreshment. This is how cocaines treat narcolepsy like amphetamines: the long-lasting spiritual refreshment keeps narcoleptics

Cocaine is a drug that comes from the coca plant .It is usually mixed with other drugs like

Cocaine which is also known as coke is a powerful restorative mostly used as a recreational drug. Some humans usually snort it, inhale it or even inject it into their veins. Whatever method is used of taking it in, cocaine immediately enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain. In the brain, cocaine obstructs with the chemical messengers neurotransmitters that nerves use to interact with each other. The resulting chemical increase between nerves causes the human to feel high. Feeling high is described as feeling restlessness, paranoid, etc. Cocaine can narrow blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes or even heart attacks. Cocaine can react to the brain by causing the human to have seizures and can lead to violent behavior. The brain

Drugs affect the brain by tapping into the communication system and interfering with the way neurons normally send, receive, and process information. Drugs also pleasure the brain, most drugs target the brains reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Constant use to drugs disrupts the way critical brain stuctures interact to control and inhabit behaviors related to drug use.

The source I am using is ASAP science. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxI7PTVRfhQ here is the link proved from the video. This video contains information on how cocaine effects the brain. This video was made by two scientists, who give quick information on certain scientifically researches. They usually do drawings to show you the whole process and how everything works. The videos the make can vary between two minutes to 5 minutes. They do many different types of videos ranging from the brain to how you feel your toes, or even how the things around us affect us. They also do live streams and answer any questions you have related to science. In this video they talk about the effects that cocaine has on the

Imagine your best friend tempting you to take a drug or drink some alcohol. How will you respond? Would you be disappointed, angry, or sympathetic and accepting of what your friend is doing? This can lead to a life-long addiction with many trips to the hospital and you may come face-to-face with death. Do you have the courage to say no?

As mentioned, cocaine is a substance that increases levels of nervous activity within the body. There are multiple routes of administration including orally, intravenously, intranasally, or one can smoke this substance (Maisto et al., 2013). Smoking cocaine achieves a higher concentration far more quickly than through the intranasal route and is associated with greater tendency for dependence (Kiluk, Babuscio,Nich, & Carroll, 2013). Once the cocaine is administered, and depending on the form of administration, there is usually a lag in time before the user begins to feel the effects of the drug. These effects include, but are not limited to, increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, blood flow decreases to the internal organs and increases to the large muscle groups and the brain, body temperature is elevated, pupils are dilated, and cocaine acts as an appetite-suppressant (Maisto et al., 2013).

Have you ever had a really good idea, one that you can't help but write down? Or perhaps you've tried to remember something you've said earlier? If you've done either of these, then you can think your brain. In fact, you should thank your brain for everything you've done in your life. From typing in keys to tapping your food subconsciously, it's all your brain.

Our brains are divided into three parts called the Brain Stem, Limbic System and the Central cortex. They each have a specific job and work like a team so we can function in our everyday lives although the team may have to throw in the towel when facing off against drug abuse.