AP Psychology 4.4 Study Guide

Amphetamines

Drugs that speed up body
- Amphetamines, nicotine, cocaine
-Accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes with devastating effects

Psychoactive drugs

Chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood (effects consciousness)
-Depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens

Opioids

Morphine and heroin, depresses neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
-Highly addictive
-Soothing effects

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
-Alcohol, barbiturates, opiates, tranquilizers

Stimulants

Excite neural activity and speed up body functions
-Heighten activity of central nervous system, affect reward pathways
-Ex: LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, marijuana

Tranquilizers

Type of depressant

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in absence of sensory input

Physiological dependence

-Withdrawal syndrome
-Tolerance-Drug addiction

Drug abuse

Drug effects work and life

Drug dependence

Continued use of a psychoactive drug produces tolerance
-With repeated exposure to drug, drug's effect lessens
-Takes greater quantities to get desired effect

Alcohol abuse

-Removes inhibitions
-Works as depressant
-Shuts off cells=makes you unconscious
-10%
-Vitamin deficiency=permanently damages brain cells

Alcoholism

Possibility of genetic factor

Cocaine

Introduces immediate euphoria followed by crash
-Crack, form of cocaine, can be smoked...other forms can be sniffed or injected

LSD

Mixes nerve messages
-"I hear colors"
-"I see sound"
-"Ergot fungus

THC

Major active ingredient in marijuana (hemp plant) that triggers variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

MDMA ("Ectasy")

Stimulant and mild hallucinogen
-Produces euphoric high and can damage serotonin producing neurons which results in permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory

PCP

Type of hallucinogen