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Module 1

1. Module 1

1.57. Page 6

Lesson 8

Module 1—The Nervous System

The Effect of Drugs on Neurons and Synapses

 

A drug is a substance that changes the way the body functions. Most drugs, whether they are legal or illegal, affect the neural synapses by either enhancing or decreasing the action of a neurotransmitter. They do this by affecting the vesicles, the receptor proteins, the ion gates in the postsynaptic membrane, or the reabsorption of neurotransmitters.

 

Read

 

To understand how drugs interrupt communication, read page 383 of your textbook.

 

no alt text Try This

 

Choose one of the following Try This activities.

 

TR 5. Investigate in greater detail how drugs affect neurons and synapses in “Drugs Alter the Brain’s Reward Pathway.” Type the following address into a new browser window: learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/addiction/drugs/. Explore one of the following articles at the website:

  • “Explore! Drugs of Abuse”
  • “The Physiology of the High”
  • “Hardwiring an Addict”
  • “Changes Last Long After Use”
  • “How PET Scans Can Measure Brain Activity”
  • “Death By Overdose”

OR

 

TR 6. Type the following address into a new browser window: learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/addiction/drugs/. Click on “Mouse Party” in “Drugs Alter the Brain’s Reward Pathway.” As you study the effects of the various drugs on mice, reflect on the questions outlined for each mouse. Based on your knowledge, formulate a hypothesis to explain the results you observe.

 

You will be able to use this information when you prepare your lesson assessment.

 

Module 1: Lesson 8 Assignment

 

Retrieve the copy of the Module 1: Lesson 8 Assignment that you saved to your computer earlier in this lesson. Complete Part 1—Drug Research, where you are asked to research three different drugs. Save your completed assignment in your course folder. You will receive instructions about when to submit your assignment to your teacher later in this lesson.