AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A drug or other substance that affects how the brain works and causes changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior. Examples of psychoactive substances include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, marijuana, and certain pain medicines.

Detailed explanation-2: -The drug affects three neurotransmitters in the brain: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (or noradrenaline). When the drug enters the brain, it leads to these neurotransmitters being released from their synaptic vesicles in neurons. This results in increased neurotransmitter activity.

Detailed explanation-3: -Psychoactive drugs change a person’s mood or behavior by acting on the central nervous system.

Detailed explanation-4: -A drug is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body, alters the body’s function either physically or psychologically. Drugs may be legal (for example alcohol, caffeine or tobacco) or illegal (for example cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine or heroin).

Detailed explanation-5: -Psychoactive drugs alter brain function, resulting in temporary changes in mood, perception, and behavior. These drugs may be used recreationally to intentionally alter one’s consciousness, as entheogens (Ruck et al., 1979) for ritual or spiritual purposes, or as medication.