What is a neurotransmitter?

 

: Individual Project 1

Unit:  The History and Classifications of Licit and Illicit Drug Use
Due Date:  Mon, 8/24/15
Deliverable Length:  10-12 slides with speaker notes

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?
  • Your final presentation should follow the following format:
    • Title slide with your name, course code, and phase number
    • 10-12 content slides containing your responses to the above questions
      • Each content slide must contain 100–200 words of speaker notes.
    • Reference slide where all sources are referenced using APA style