Neuroplasticity & Effects Of Psychoactive Drugs [AP Psychology Unit 2 Topic 8]
Summary
TLDRIn this episode of the Mr. Sin channel, we delve into Unit 2 Topic 8 of AP Psychology, exploring the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and change. We discuss how experiences and learning shape neural pathways, and differentiate neuroplasticity from neurogenesis. The video also covers the impact of psychoactive drugs on the brain, including depressants, opioids, stimulants, and hallucinogens, and their effects on consciousness. Mr. Sin encourages viewers to engage with the content through his Discord server and review materials for AP Psychology success.
Takeaways
- π§ The human brain is highly adaptable and can change, modify, or even repair itself, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.
- π Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life due to learning, experience, or injury.
- π¨βπ¬ Michael Gazzaniga, a student of Roger Sperry, has significantly contributed to the understanding of brain lateralization through his research on split-brain patients.
- π€ Brain damage from factors like tumors, infections, strokes, or head injuries can trigger neuroplasticity as the brain adapts to the damage.
- π Psychoactive drugs can alter an individual's perceptions, consciousness, or mood by affecting neural activity, and they are categorized into depressants, opioids, stimulants, and hallucinogens.
- π« Psychoactive drugs can lead to addiction, altered consciousness, and withdrawal symptoms, with varying effects depending on the type of drug.
- π§ͺ Neurogenesis is a distinct process from neuroplasticity, involving the formation of new neurons in the brain.
- π Consciousness is a complex topic with theories like William James' 'stream of consciousness' and Freud's division of the mind into conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious parts.
- π The video script is part of a series designed to help students excel in AP Psychology, including resources like a review packet and a Discord server for additional support.
- π Mr. Sin encourages viewers to engage with the content by answering questions and participating in the community to enhance their understanding of psychology.
Q & A
What is neuroplasticity?
-Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, is the ability of the human brain to change, modify, or even repair itself. It involves the neural networks changing their connections and behaviors due to various factors such as information, external experiences, damages, or developmental changes throughout a person's life.
Who is Michael Gazzaniga and what is his contribution to neuroscience?
-Michael Gazzaniga is a cognitive neuroscientist who was a student of Roger Sperry. He has made significant contributions to our understanding of brain lateralization through his research with individuals who have undergone split-brain procedures.
How can the brain adapt to damage?
-The brain can adapt to damage from various factors such as tumors, infections, strokes, neurotoxins, genetic factors, or head injuries. This adaptation depends on the extent of the damage and which brain structures are impacted.
What is the difference between neuroplasticity and neurogenesis?
-Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt its neural pathways, while neurogenesis is the process of forming new neurons in the brain.
What are psychoactive drugs and how do they affect the brain?
-Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that are used to alter an individual's perceptions, consciousness, or mood. They can be categorized into depressants, opioids, stimulants, and hallucinogens, each affecting the brain and body differently.
What are some examples of depressants?
-Examples of depressants include sleeping pills and alcohol, which reduce neural activity, causing effects like drowsiness, muscle relaxation, and potentially slurred speech or lowered breathing.
How do opioids differ from other depressants?
-While opioids also function as depressants, they are categorized separately due to their highly addictive nature. Opioids provide pain relief and include substances like morphine, oxycodone, and heroin.
What are stimulants and what effects do they have on an individual?
-Stimulants are drugs that excite and promote neural activity, leading to increased energy, reduced appetite, irritability, or increased body temperature. Examples include caffeine, nicotine, and cocaine.
What are hallucinogens and how do they impact an individual's perception?
-Hallucinogens distort an individual's perception, causing them to sense things that are not there and potentially reducing motivation. They can also lead to panic. Examples include marijuana, psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), and LSD.
What is consciousness and how has it been studied?
-Consciousness is the state of being awake and aware of external stimuli as well as one's own mental activity. It has been a topic of research and discussion for generations, with theories like William James' 'stream of consciousness' and Sigmund Freud's model of the conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious mind.
What is the 'ultimate review packet' mentioned in the script and how can it help students?
-The 'ultimate review packet' is a resource designed to help students with their AP Psychology studies. It provides comprehensive review materials to assist students in achieving high grades and excelling on the national exam.
Outlines
π§ Introduction to Neuroplasticity and Psychoactive Drugs
This paragraph introduces the topic of neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change, modify, and even repair itself. It discusses how neural networks can alter their connections due to various experiences and changes throughout a person's life. The paragraph also mentions the contributions of Michael Gazzaniga to cognitive neuroscience, particularly in the field of brain lateralization. The concept of brain damage and its role in demonstrating neuroplasticity is explored, highlighting how the brain can adapt to damage from various causes. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the constant change in the brain due to learning, practicing skills, and processing information, which all contribute to the formation and strengthening of neural pathways. The difference between neuroplasticity and neurogenesis is also clarified. The paragraph concludes with an overview of psychoactive drugs, their categories, and their effects on neural activity and consciousness.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Neuroplasticity
π‘Cognitive Neuroscience
π‘Brain Lateralization
π‘Psychoactive Drugs
π‘Depressants
π‘Opioids
π‘Stimulants
π‘Hallucinogens
π‘Consciousness
π‘Neurogenesis
Highlights
Introduction to Unit 2 Topic 8 of AP Psychology: The Adaptable Brain
Neuroplasticity defined as the brain's ability to change, modify, or repair itself
Michael Gazzaniga's contributions to neuroscience and cognitive neuroscience
Brain lateralization and its significance in understanding brain function
Causes of brain damage and its impact on neuroplasticity
Daily activities and their role in shaping neural pathways in the brain
The process of creating and strengthening neural pathways through practice
Neuroplasticity versus neurogenesis: the difference between changing connections and forming new neurons
Psychoactive drugs and their impact on neural activity and consciousness
Classification of psychoactive drugs: depressants, opioids, stimulants, and hallucinogens
Effects of psychoactive drugs on perception, consciousness, and addiction
Medical and recreational uses of psychoactive drugs
William James's perspective on consciousness as a continuous stream
Sigmund Freud's theory of consciousness comprising conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious minds
The importance of understanding consciousness in the study of psychology
Encouragement to engage with the community through the Discord server and review materials
Conclusion of the topic review video and call to action for viewers to check their understanding
Transcripts
hello there and welcome back to the mr
sin channel today we're gonna be going
into unit two topic eight of ap
psychology the adaptable brain but
before we get started don't forget to
check out the discord server and also
the ultimate review packet in the
description of this video these are two
great resources that'll help you get an
a in your class and five on the national
exam also don't forget to hit that
subscribe button so you don't miss out
on any future content now we've already
talked about just how complex and
amazing the brain is but over time the
brain grows and changes the ability for
the human brain to change modify itself
or even repair itself is known as
neuroplasticity also known as brain
plasticity the neural networks in the
brain change their connections and even
behavior changes due to different
information external experiences damages
or developmental changes that occur
throughout a person's life people like
michael gazoniga have made significant
contributions to our understanding of
neuroscience because anika was a student
of roger sperry and he specializes in
cognitive neuroscience he's done
research with individuals of split brain
and has made significant advances in our
understanding of brain lateralization a
concept that we talked about in our last
video now at the start of this video i
mentioned brain damage when talking
about neuroplasticity the brain can
become damaged from a variety of
different factors such as tumors
infections a stroke neurotoxins genetic
factors or head injuries and that's just
to name a few this damage can cause the
brain to adapt to the damage that has
occurred in the brain and of course all
this depends on the amount of damage
that's occurred in the brain and which
structures have been impacted and it
isn't just brain damage that can show
neuroplasticity in fact your brain's
changing all the time every single day
you are learning practicing skills
discussing certain topics feeling
emotions and processing information all
of this creates neural pathways in your
brain the more you practice a certain
skill or learn a concept the more
developed that path is when you learn
something new or practice a new skill
you start to create a new path in your
brain the more you continue to practice
that skill the stronger those
connections in your brain get if you
stop practicing the skill then the
pathways in your brain become weaker all
of this is neuroplasticity your brain is
constantly changing and adapting to what
you're doing in your life now i do want
to highlight that neuroplasticity is
different from neurogenesis which is the
process in which new neurons are formed
in the brain now another way in which
the brain can be changed or altered is
by taking psychoactive drugs which are
chemical substances that are used to
purposely alter an individual's
perceptions consciousness or mood
psychoactive drugs can be broken down
into a couple different categories there
are depressants which reduce the neural
activity in an individual these drugs
will cause drowsiness muscle relaxation
and can also cause slurred speech
lowered breathing or possibly death
examples of this would be sleeping pills
or also alcohol opioids which also
function as a depressant however opioids
have their own category due to their
addictive nature opioids give an
individual pain relief examples would
include morphine oxycodone or heroin now
there are also drugs that stimulate an
individual these are known as stimulants
these drugs excite and promote neural
activity a couple symptoms of stimulants
would be an increase in energy reduction
in appetite irritability or increased
body temperature examples of this would
be caffeine nicotine or cocaine lastly
there are hallucinogens these distort an
individual's perception these drugs can
cause an individual to sense things that
are not really there they can also
reduce an individual's motivation and
can lead to an individual to panic
examples would include marijuana pyote
or lsd you can see that each of these
different types of psychoactive drugs
change the body in different ways this
can lead to an addiction alter an
individual's consciousness and can cause
the individual to go through withdrawal
some of these drugs are used for medical
purposes while others are used for
recreational now throughout this video
i've been talking about an individual's
consciousness and this is when an
individual is awake and aware of their
external stimuli and they're also aware
of their own mental activity our
consciousness has been a topic of
research and discussion for generations
william james who we last talked about
in our unit 1 topic 1 video argued that
our consciousness was a stream that you
could not break the consciousness into
parts while sigmund freud believed that
our consciousness was actually made up
of three different parts our conscious
mind our subconscious or pre-conscious
mind and our unconscious mind we'll talk
more about freud's beliefs and
contributions later in this class and
just like that another topic review
video is complete now you know the drill
answer the questions on the screen and
check your answers in the comments below
also don't forget to check out my
ultimate review packet if you need more
help with ap psychology and of course
the discord server there's a lot of
students there that would help you get
an a in your class and a five on that
national exam as always i'm mr sin thank
you so much for watching and until next
time i'll see you online
[Music]
you
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