Effects of Drugs on Synaptic Activity

Subject: Advance Psychophysiology

Submitted to: Ms. Saadia Zia

Dated: 30th May, 2020

Submitted by: Akhwand Abdur Raffi Saulat

Roll no: ADCP-021R20-6

Session: 2020-2021

Department of Psychology
 Effects of Drugs on Synaptic Activity
Some drugs are observed to impart effect on our behavior, cognitions and perceptions, by affecting
the activity of the neurons in the central nervous system, these types of drugs are known as
psychotropic drugs. The communication between neurons involves the release of
neurotransmitters, which bind with receptors and either excite or inhibit the activity of the
postsynaptic cell.
There are seven major events that
contribute to synaptic neurotransmission. The
first, synthesis of the neurotransmitter, can take
place in the cell body, the axon, or the terminal.
The neurotransmitter is then stored (event number
2) in storage granules or in vesicles until it is
released (event number 3) from the terminal’s
presynaptic membrane. The amount of transmitter
released into the synapse is regulated by the
effects of previous experience. When released, the
transmitter acts on a receptor (event number 4)
embedded in the postsynaptic membrane. It is
then either destroyed (event number 5) or taken
back into the terminal from which it came for
reuse (event number 6). The synapse also has
mechanisms for degrading excess
neurotransmitter (event number 7) and removing
unneeded by-products from the synapse.
Each of these components of neurotransmission entails one or more chemical reactions that
drugs can potentially influence in one of two ways: either increasing the effectiveness of
neurotransmission or diminishing it. Drugs that increase the effectiveness of neurotransmission
are called agonists, whereas those that decrease its effectiveness are called antagonists.
The agonists can act in three ways:
1. They can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neuron.
2. They can block the reuptake of the neurotransmitter at presynaptic neuron
3. They can block the inactivation of the neurotransmitter
The antagonist can act in
4. They can inhibit the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neuron
5. They can block the receptors sites of neurotransmitters at postsynaptic receptors
6. They can speed up the inactivation process of the neurotransmitter
Example
All drugs that stimulate the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, or block the reuptake
of dopamine, or block dopamine’s inactivation are considered dopamine agonists because they all
increase the amount of dopamine available in the synapse. Conversely, all drugs that block the
synthesis of dopamine or its release from the presynaptic membrane or that block dopamine
receptors or speed up dopamine’s inactivation are considered dopamine antagonists because they
all decrease the biochemical effect of this transmitter in the synapse.
Neurotransmitters, Their Actions, and Drugs That Affect Them