Your+Brain+on+Drugs

Use the Psych Sim to answer the prompts below:

Psych Sim 5 Your Brain on Drugs

Name____________________________________________Date__________________ Psych/Soc __PsychSim 5: Your Mind on Drugs__

1. Briefly describe the history and the uses of psychoactive drugs throughout time.

2. What are the effects of the following categories of psychoactive drugs on the central nervous system? A. Stimulants

B. Depressants -

C. Hallucinogens -

3. Both Caffeine and Nicotine are considered stimulants although they produce behavioral effects differently. Briefly describe how each drug biologically brings about changed behavior.
 * Caffeine ||  ||
 * Nicotine ||  ||

4. Explain why amphetamines would appeal to certain populations? What are the negative side effects of amphetamine abuse?

5. If cocaine affects dopamine levels in the limbic system how would it impact behavior of someone who has taken large amounts?

6. Include some facts about the following Depressants:

A. Morphine and Heroin -

B. Alcohol

C. Barbiturates - 7. Describe the ways in which Marijuana (technically a hallucinogen) behaves like other types of drugs.

8. Explain how Functional and Metabolic tolerance impact the effects of a drug taken repeatedly.

9. Why would psychological drug addition be much more powerful than physical addition? Be sure to clearly support your answer here.

10. What conclusions (insights) did you draw from your experiment with the rat?

11. When we look at all of human history psychoactive drugs have always been present but addiction rates have never been so high or so problematic. Explain why drug addiction is such a problem in the modern world.