Cocaine

The drug we are researching is cocaine. Three different cell receptors, or neurotransmitters, are affected by this drug. The first is dopamine, the second is serotonin and the third is norepinephrine. When dopamine is released into the brain, Cocaine inhibits dopamine from reabsorbing into the dopamine vesicles after it has done its job. Cocaine traps the dopamine out causing it to stay in the brain resulting in a feeling of reward and pleasure. Cocaine also affects serotonin, which affects a persons’ mood, appetite, temperature and sleep cycles. Lastly, it affects norepinephrine, which affects the body’s fight or flight response. It affects things like heart rate, the release or glucose and blood flow to the skeletal muscle. Cocaine affects all three of these neurotransmitters in the brain, it impedes their reuptake and causes the side effects that come with usage. Under normal conditions, dopamine plays important roles in motor control, motivation, arousal, cognition, and reward. It is released into the brain when one feels happiness or satisfaction. Serotonin is also released when one feels happiness, and it also regulates ones appetite and gut movements. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter as well as a stress hormone, which affects parts of the brain such as the amygdala. Norepinephrine underlies the fight or flight response, so it also regulates ones sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Under challenging situations dopamine is released when under conditions of low oxygen. Serotonin can help better ones mood and deal with anxiety. Norepinephrine helps control the “adrenaline rush” in our bodies, when in a challenging situation