How Do Drugs Influence Neural Communication?

In this video I describe how psychoactive drugs can influence neural communication by passing through the blood-brain barrier and acting as either agonists or antagonists. The brain also responds to this influence via neuroadaptation which can create tolerance and withdrawal to certain drugs. In addition to this physiological aspect of addiction, drugs can also carry psychological aspects of addiction, particularly … Read More

Drugs and Neurotransmitters: Agonist or Antagonist?

In this video I discuss some ways that drugs can influence the functioning of neurotransmitters by binding to receptors on postsynaptic neurons. I explain the difference between agonist drugs which increase effects of a neurotransmitter and antagonist drugs which reduce the effects of the neurotransmitter. I explain how nicotine acts as an agonist for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and how neuroadaptation … Read More