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1 Name: Period Drugs Webquest Step 1: Go to this web address The New Science of Addictions: Genetics and the Brain Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by changes in the which result in a desire to use a drug. A combination of many factors including, and influence a person's addiction risk, making it an incredibly complicated disease. The new science of addiction considers all of these factors - from - to unravel the complexities of the addicted brain. Natural Reward Pathways Exist in the Brain Draw the 4 shapes of Neurons shown on the left side of the page Neurons in the Brain Neurons are the cells responsible for passing chemical and electrical signals along the pathways of the brain. They come in many shapes and sizes enabling them to conduct specialized functions such as or controlling our.

2 Label the Neuron then click EXPLORE Make a Mad, Mad, Mad Neuron to create your own with Dr. Dendristrein. The Reward Pathway Reinforces Behavior Look at the brain under this heading. Read the following description of how the reward pathway gets us to do certain things. Underline or highlight the important points as you go along. You will be asked to summarize this. The brain is divided into several distinct regions that are each responsible for performing different functions. In the center of the brain sits the reward pathway, which is responsible for driving our feelings of motivation, reward and behavior. The central job of the reward pathway is to make us feel good when we engage in behaviors that are necessary for our survival like eating and drinking. The reward pathway connects to several other important areas of the brain. These connections allow the reward pathway to gather information about what is happening outside of the body, and to strengthen brain circuits that control desirable behavior. Let s take a closer look at how the reward pathway works. Imagine you haven t eaten all day and someone gives you a nice big sandwich. Your five senses gather information from your surroundings and send signals to the brain letting it know that there is a yummy looking sandwich in front of you.

3 Stored in another part of your brain is the memory that when you eat a sandwich, you will no longer be hungry and you will feel good. Based on this information, the brain tells the body to pick up the sandwich and eat it. When the five senses let the brain know that the body is eating some good tasting food and the stomach is filling up, special neurons in the reward pathway release the chemical dopamine. The release of dopamine gives you a little jolt of pleasure. That s your reward for eating the sandwich. In addition to making you feel good when you engage in beneficial behavior, the reward pathway is responsible for trying to make sure you repeat the behavior whenever possible. It does this by connecting to regions of the brain that control memory and behavior. When the reward pathway signals brain regions involved in memory, it enables the brain to create the memory that eating food makes you feel good. This increases the likelihood that you will eat the food again. When the reward pathway signals the brain s motor center, it strengthens the wiring for behaviors that help you achieve your reward. In this case, the behaviors include picking up the sandwich, chewing it up, and swallowing it. By giving us a jolt of pleasure, the reward pathway works to ensure that we will repeat behaviors which are necessary for survival. In 7 sentences or less summarize how the reward pathway system works. - Click on EXPLORE: Crossing the Divide and go through the information provided. What neurotrasmitter (chemical messenger) is used along the reward pathway? Dopamine in the synaptic cleft (gap between brain cells) locks into what? Now that you know a little about the brain, go back to the home page and click on DRUGS ALTER THE BRAIN S REWARD PATHWAY Listen to Dr. Glen Hanson All drugs of abuse activate the system in the reward pathway.

4 Click on EXPLORE: Drugs of Abuse. Use what you find to fill out the information on the following drugs. Drug Abuse Alcohol 2 street names Is it a: Drepressant Stimulant Hallucinogen Other Cocaine Is it a: Drepressant Stimulant Hallucinogen Other

5 Dissociative Drugs Is it a: Drepressant Stimulant Hallucinogen Other Hallucinogens Is it a: Drepressant Stimulant Hallucinogen Other

6 Heroin Inhalants

7 Marijuana MDMA/ECSTASY

8 Methamphetamine (Meth)

9 Nicotine