Mechanisms of LSD :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Mechanisms of lysergic acid diethylamide a Glimpse into the Serotonergic SystemIn 1938, Albert Hoffman discovered, invented a substance that would reverse the American drug culture forever and would change how we, as psychologists and biologists, legal opinion well-nigh psychosis. That substance was lysergic acid diethylamide. A simple molecule, LSD has the potency that no other drug has. Only a drop will name the desired hallucinations and euphoria. In addition, it does not seem to be physically addicting, although valuation account to the drug can develop in as few as three days but disappears after week of abstinence. Much research has been make into the actual effects of the drug. LSD most profound effect on behavior is the production of sensory distortions, such as hallucinations, and euphoria. It also bring ins dilated pupils, increase blood pressure, and change magnitude heart rate (7, 9). However, little is know closely the mechanisms by which it acts. It is known tha t LSD affects the serotonergic system in the brain. However, the actual ship canal in which it acts on that system to modify behavior remains unclear. in the beginning we explore the current research into LSD, it may be helpful to check round of the ship canal in which serotonin affects behavior. Serotonin (also called 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter that is produced from tryptophan. Although serotonin is only produced by a small number of neurons (1000s), each of those neurons innervates as many as 500,000 other neurons (3,12). For the most part, these neurons originate in the venue Coerleus (LC) and the Raphe Nuclei (RN) (12). The LC controls the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter/hormone that regulates the sympathetic NS. It also has neurons that cash in ones chips into the cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus (12). The RN transmits its projections into the brainstem and up into the brain (12). It has been suggested that neurons in thi s region of the brain may be responsible for the inhibition of sensation, so protecting the brain from sensory overload. (12) The fact that these two regions innervate well-nigh every part of the brain shows that serotonin can activate life-size portions of the brain from a relatively small area of origination. Serotonin seems to piss an inhibitory effect on these neurons (1, 12). Thus, it would decrease the occurrence and frequency of activeness potentials in the neurons that it innervates. Because of this, it produces neural activity (of lack of activity) that are in some way an inhibition of behavior.Mechanisms of LSD Biology Essays Research PapersMechanisms of LSD a Glimpse into the Serotonergic SystemIn 1938, Albert Hoffman discovered, invented a substance that would animate the American drug culture forever and would change how we, as psychologists and biologists, eyeshot about psychosis. That substance was LSD. A simple molecule, LSD has the potency that no other dru g has. Only a drop will produce the desired hallucinations and euphoria. In addition, it does not seem to be physically addicting, although margin to the drug can develop in as few as three days but disappears after week of abstinence. Much research has been do into the actual effects of the drug. LSD most profound effect on behavior is the production of sensory distortions, such as hallucinations, and euphoria. It also produces dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate (7, 9). However, little is know about the mechanisms by which it acts. It is known that LSD affects the serotonergic system in the brain. However, the actual ways in which it acts on that system to modify behavior remains unclear. ahead we explore the current research into LSD, it may be helpful to suss out some of the ways in which serotonin affects behavior. Serotonin (also called 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter that is produced from tryptophan. Although serotonin is only produced by a smal l number of neurons (1000s), each of those neurons innervates as many as 500,000 other neurons (3,12). For the most part, these neurons originate in the venue Coerleus (LC) and the Raphe Nuclei (RN) (12). The LC controls the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter/hormone that regulates the sympathetic NS. It also has neurons that extend into the cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus (12). The RN extends its projections into the brainstem and up into the brain (12). It has been suggested that neurons in this region of the brain may be responsible for the inhibition of sensation, therefore protecting the brain from sensory overload. (12) The fact that these two regions innervate well-nigh every part of the brain shows that serotonin can activate macroscopic portions of the brain from a relatively small area of origination. Serotonin seems to permit an inhibitory effect on these neurons (1, 12). Thus, it would decrease the occurrence and frequ ency of doing potentials in the neurons that it innervates. Because of this, it produces neural activity (of lack of activity) that are in some way an inhibition of behavior.