Equilibrium Project:
Driving Question:
Why does chemical equilibrium need to be maintained and how do you do it?
Why does chemical equilibrium need to be maintained and how do you do it?
Chemical Addiction:
Supporting Document and Research Evidence:
What is chemical equilibrium and how is it established?
A chemical equilibrium is the condition which occurs then the concentration of reactants and products participating in a chemical reaction exhibit no net change over time. Chemical equilibrium is established when the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.
Chemical equilibrium within the brain?
Consistently, the mind's nerve cells trade billions of synaptic motivations. Two sorts of neurotransmitters guarantee that this stream of information is directed: Excitatory neural connections hand-off data starting with one cell then onto the next, while inhibitory neurotransmitters confine the stream of data.
What drugs affect each chemical in the brain?
Dopamine - Involved in regulation of movement, reward and punishment, pleasure, energy
Every drug that affects feelings of pleasure, including Cocaine, Amphetamine, opiates, marijuana, heroin and PCP
Epinephrine (also called Adrenaline)- Excitatory neurotransmitter involved in arousal and alertness
Norepinephrine (also called Noradrenaline)- Involved in arousal and alertness, energy and feelings of pleasure
Stimulants
Serotonin- Involved in regulation of mood and impulsivity
Alcohol, Hallucinogens, Stimulants, Anti-depressants
Acetylcholine- Inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in movement, memory function, motivation and sleep
PCP and hallucinogens, Marijuana, Stimulants
GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid)- neurotransmitter involved in arousal, judgment and impulsiveness
Depressant drugs, Marijuana
Glutamate- Excitatory neurotransmitter
Endorphins- Substances involved in pain relief and reward/punishment
Opioids, Depressants
What is Dopamine?
The neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure when released by the brain reward system. Dopamine has multiple functions depending on where in the brain it acts. It is usually inhibitory.
What is a synapses?
A synapse is the “gap” between between the axon and of one nerve and the dendrite of the next one. The average neuron has 1,000 synapses with other neurons.
Neurotransmitters
There are dozens of different neurotransmitters (NT) in the neurons of the body. NTs can be either excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters are not necessarily exciting – they are what stimulate the brain. Those that calm the brain and help create balance are called inhibitory. Inhibitory neurotransmitters are what balance mood and are easily depleted when the excitatory neurotransmitters are overactive. Each neuron generally synthesizes and releases a single type of neurotransmitter.
How do drugs affect synapses and neurotransmitters?
They increase the number of impulses. They release neurotransmitters from vesicles with or without impulses. They block receptors. It produces less or more transmitters.
What is Heroin?
Heroin is an opioid drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. The drug usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as “black tar heroin.” It can be inhaled, snorted, or injected, all deliver the drug to the brain very quickly.
How does heroin affect the brain?
When Heroin enter the bloodstream, it then enters the brain. When it enters the brain, it is converted back into morphine, which binds to molecules on cells known as opioid receptors. These receptors are involved with the the perception of pain and reward. They are also located in the brainstem, which controls automatic critical for life, such as blood pressure, respiratory, and brain activity.
Chemical Formula
Heroin- C21H23NO5 Morphine- C7H19NO3
Normal Brain vs. Addicted Brain
One way the brain compensates with drugs in its system is to reduce the number of dopamine receptors at the synapse. Sending neurons increase their number of dopamine transporters, more quickly clearing dopamine from the synapse. In conclusion, these changes make the brain less responsive to the drug. However, they also decrease the brain’s response to natural rewards. Because of these changes, after the user has calmed down they will need more of the drug next time they want to get high, which is commonly referred to as "tolerance.”
What is chemical equilibrium and how is it established?
A chemical equilibrium is the condition which occurs then the concentration of reactants and products participating in a chemical reaction exhibit no net change over time. Chemical equilibrium is established when the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction.
Chemical equilibrium within the brain?
Consistently, the mind's nerve cells trade billions of synaptic motivations. Two sorts of neurotransmitters guarantee that this stream of information is directed: Excitatory neural connections hand-off data starting with one cell then onto the next, while inhibitory neurotransmitters confine the stream of data.
What drugs affect each chemical in the brain?
Dopamine - Involved in regulation of movement, reward and punishment, pleasure, energy
Every drug that affects feelings of pleasure, including Cocaine, Amphetamine, opiates, marijuana, heroin and PCP
Epinephrine (also called Adrenaline)- Excitatory neurotransmitter involved in arousal and alertness
Norepinephrine (also called Noradrenaline)- Involved in arousal and alertness, energy and feelings of pleasure
Stimulants
Serotonin- Involved in regulation of mood and impulsivity
Alcohol, Hallucinogens, Stimulants, Anti-depressants
Acetylcholine- Inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in movement, memory function, motivation and sleep
PCP and hallucinogens, Marijuana, Stimulants
GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid)- neurotransmitter involved in arousal, judgment and impulsiveness
Depressant drugs, Marijuana
Glutamate- Excitatory neurotransmitter
Endorphins- Substances involved in pain relief and reward/punishment
Opioids, Depressants
What is Dopamine?
The neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure when released by the brain reward system. Dopamine has multiple functions depending on where in the brain it acts. It is usually inhibitory.
What is a synapses?
A synapse is the “gap” between between the axon and of one nerve and the dendrite of the next one. The average neuron has 1,000 synapses with other neurons.
Neurotransmitters
There are dozens of different neurotransmitters (NT) in the neurons of the body. NTs can be either excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters are not necessarily exciting – they are what stimulate the brain. Those that calm the brain and help create balance are called inhibitory. Inhibitory neurotransmitters are what balance mood and are easily depleted when the excitatory neurotransmitters are overactive. Each neuron generally synthesizes and releases a single type of neurotransmitter.
How do drugs affect synapses and neurotransmitters?
They increase the number of impulses. They release neurotransmitters from vesicles with or without impulses. They block receptors. It produces less or more transmitters.
What is Heroin?
Heroin is an opioid drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. The drug usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as “black tar heroin.” It can be inhaled, snorted, or injected, all deliver the drug to the brain very quickly.
How does heroin affect the brain?
When Heroin enter the bloodstream, it then enters the brain. When it enters the brain, it is converted back into morphine, which binds to molecules on cells known as opioid receptors. These receptors are involved with the the perception of pain and reward. They are also located in the brainstem, which controls automatic critical for life, such as blood pressure, respiratory, and brain activity.
Chemical Formula
Heroin- C21H23NO5 Morphine- C7H19NO3
Normal Brain vs. Addicted Brain
One way the brain compensates with drugs in its system is to reduce the number of dopamine receptors at the synapse. Sending neurons increase their number of dopamine transporters, more quickly clearing dopamine from the synapse. In conclusion, these changes make the brain less responsive to the drug. However, they also decrease the brain’s response to natural rewards. Because of these changes, after the user has calmed down they will need more of the drug next time they want to get high, which is commonly referred to as "tolerance.”
Reflection:
Overall this project was extremely rewarding. Throughout all my research I was constantly discovering new things and learning how drugs completely change you and your brain. My understanding of equilibrium and equilibrium in the brain grew and found it extremely valuable for the future. I was able to visit many websites written by highly respected doctors, universities and rehab facilities which helped me distinguish their credibility, making it much easier to cite my sources. If I could change my process I would have been more productive in researching rehab and how the brain changes from addictions, however, I didn't have a ton of time to do so. My favorite part of this project was learning about what drugs effect what hormones and chemicals in your brain. I also enjoyed making my infographic that was eye catching and full of valuable information. Chemical addiction is a problem we face all the time and researching how drugs disturb equilibrium in the brain, you should never participate in using drugs.