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One form of behavioral neuropharmacology focuses on the study of drug dependence and how drug addiction affects the human mind. Most research has shown that the major part of the brain that reinforces addiction through neurochemical reward is the nucleus accumbens. The image to the right shows how dopamine is projected into this area.
GLP-1 inhibitor drugs might affect everything from food noise to Alzheimer's. Experts answer your top questions about their impact on mood, memory and more.
GLP-1 drugs may protect the brain from inflammation, some studies say, but others warn they may increase depression risk. Image credit: James Manning – PA Images/Getty Images.
Psychoactive drugs operate by temporarily affecting a person's neurochemistry, which in turn causes changes in a person's mood, cognition, perception and behavior. There are many ways in which psychoactive drugs can affect the brain. Each drug has a specific action on one or more neurotransmitter or neuroreceptor in the brain.
In some cases the level or exposure-time may be critical, with some substances only becoming neurotoxic in certain doses or time periods. Some of the most common naturally occurring brain toxins that lead to neurotoxicity as a result of long term drug use are amyloid beta (Aβ), glutamate, dopamine, and oxygen radicals.
Drug addiction, which belongs to the class of substance-related disorders, is a chronic and relapsing brain disorder that features drug seeking and drug abuse, despite their harmful effects. [31] This form of addiction changes brain circuitry such that the brain's reward system is compromised, [ 32 ] causing functional consequences for stress ...
Researchers found that 63% of lifetime heavy cannabis-using participants and 68% of recent cannabis users showed reduced brain activity during their working memory task.
Neuroscientists believe that drug addicts’ behavior is a direct correlation to some physiological change in their brain, caused by using drugs. This view believes there is a bodily function in the brain causing the addiction. This is brought on by a change in the brain caused by brain damage or adaptation from chronic drug use. [1] [2]