Year 13 2013/14/15 Diploma Biology

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

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EXPLAIN how psychoactive drugs affect the brain and personality by either increasing or
decreasing postsynaptic transmission.
LIST three examples of excitatory psychoactive drugs. These must be NICOTINE,
COCAINE and AMPHETAMINES.
LIST three examples of inhibitory psychoactive drugs. These must be BENZODIAZOPINES,
ALCOHOL and TETROHYDROCANNABINOL (THC).
EXPLAIN the effect of cocaine on synapses in the brain. (Include mood and behaviour.)
EXPLAIN the effect of THC on synapses in the brain. (Include mood and behaviour.)
DISCUSS the causes of addiction:
a. Genetic predisposition
b. Social factors
c. Dopamine secretion

These questions will be the core of the questions you answer Tuesday 6 th January.
John Osborne
December 2014