You have been asked to do a short presentation on addiction and the effects that certain drugs have on the brain. Your presentation should include the following elements:
Assignment Guidelines
Address the following in 10-12 content slides within a PowerPoint presentation:
What does it mean to say that someone is addicted to a drug?
Why do people become addicted to a drug physically? Mentally?
What is a neurotransmitter?
What role do neurotransmitters play with regard to brain functions and behavior?
What roles do dopamine and serotonin play with regard to drug use?
How are dopamine and serotonin levels affected by various drugs?
What is meant by the reward pathways or the reward center of the brain?
How do the drugs methamphetamine and ecstasy affect neurotransmitters and the reward center of the brain?
How do these kinds of effects on the reward center of the brain relate to the concept of addiction?
What differences have been found between men and women in terms of effects of psychoactive drugs and addiction?