Regulatory vs. Nonregulatory Behavior
Psychoactive Drugs
Homeostatic Mechanisms
Blood-Brain Barrier
100
Behavior motivated to meet the survival needs of the animals.
What is regulatory behavior?
100
What are the groups of psychoactive drugs?
Antianxiety agents and sedative hypnotics Antidepressants and mood stabilizers Opioid analgesics Psychotropics
100
Define homeostatic mechanisms.
Processes that maintain critical body functions within a narrow fixed range
100
What kind of molecules are able to pass through the endothelial membrane?
Small, uncharged molecules
200
Which behavior involves the frontal lobes more than the hypothalamus?
Nonregulatory behavior
200
Antianxiety Agents and Sedative Hypnotics include barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Describe these.
Barbiturates: produce sedation and sleep (alcohol) Benzodiazepines: minor tranquilizers; antianxiety agents (valium)
200
What are the main structures involved in homeostatic mechanisms?
Limbic system, frontal lobes, and hypothalamus (and associated pituitary gland)
200
What molecules are unable to cross the membrane and must be actively transported?
Large, charged molecules
300
Behavior unnecessary to meet the basic survival needs of the animal.
What is nonregulatory behavior?
300
Give 3 examples of antidepressant medications and describe one.
MAO inhibitors: block enzyme MAO from degrading NT Tricyclic antidepressants: first-gen antidepressants with chemical structure that blocks serotonin reuptake transporter proteins Second-generation antidepressants: action similar to first-gen but more selective on serotonin reuptake transporter proteins SSRIs: block reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic terminal prolonging its action on postsynaptic receptors
300
Where does the hypothalamus send its axons and why?
To control brainstem circuits to produce motivated behaviors
300
What are the blood-brain barrier-free regions?
Pineal gland, pituitary gland, and area postrema
400
What is the difference between regulatory and nonregulatory behavior in regards to homeostatic mechanisms?
Regulatory behavior is controlled by homeostatic mechanisms and nonregulatory behavior is not.
400
Describe endorphins. What group of psychoactive drugs are they important to?
Endorphins: produced by brain; peptides with opioid-like effects; may be associated with feelings of pain or pleasure Opioid Analgesics
400
Are all behaviors controlled via the funnel to the hypothalamus? What does this mean for necessitating hypothalamic involvement?
NO; primarily motivated behaviors that necessitate hypothalamic involvement
400
Which BBB free region allows toxic substances in blood to trigger a vomiting response?
The Area Postrema
500
Which behavior is influenced by external stimuli? Internal? Give examples.
Nonregulatory behavior influenced by external stimuli (sexual behavior, aggression, food preference, curiosity). Regulatory behavior influenced by internal stimuli (eating, drinking, waste elimination, internal body temperature).
500
What are the 3 types of stimulants of psychotropics? Describe one.
Behavioral stimulants: increase motor activity and elevate mood; cocaine; amphetamine Psychedelic and hallucinogenic stimulants: affect perception and produce hallucinations; noreprinephrine psychedlics; serotonin psychedelics General stimulants: mainly affect mood; increase in metabolic activity of cells; caffeine
500
Explain the funnel process including the three main structures involved in homeostatic mechanisms.
Inputs from the frontal lobes and limbic system funnel through the hypothalamus to produce motivated behavior.
500
Describe the capillaries' job in the BBB.
In brain: form tight junctions and are covered with astrocyte feet which prevents materials from moving in and out easily. In body: form few tight junctions so materials can move in and out quite easily.
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