How do stimulants?

Answer 1

Stimulant drugs increase alertness and heighten awareness. They work in an area of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS), which lies in the brain stem. The RAS controls wakefulness by sending signals to the upper part of the brain (the cerebral cortex), which controls thought processes. Activity in the RAS is controlled by the balance of inhibitory chemicals, such as gamma ami Stimulant drugs increase alertness and heighten awareness. They work in an area of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS), which lies in the brain stem. The RAS controls wakefulness by sending signals to the upper part of the brain (the cerebral cortex), which controls thought processes. Activity in the RAS is controlled by the balance of inhibitory chemicals, such as gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and excitatory chemicals, including noradrenaline. Stimulant drugs trigger the release of noradrenaline by the brain cells, increasing RAS activity and so increasing the 'thinking' activity of the cerebral cortex. The best-known stimulant drug is caffeine. We often drink coffee to stay awake or keep our brains going when we're tired. Other stimulants include amphetamines and similar drugs once used in slimming to control appetite, but now banned because of their side-effects. Stimulants are also used for narcolepsy (a condition of excessive sleepiness) and hyperactivity (it sounds paradoxical, but they can help to increase the attention span). The risks of stimulants are considerable and many are classified as controlled drugs. They're addictive and in the long term the brain becomes tolerant to them, so increasing doses are needed to have the same affect. They can cause palpitations, anxiety, hallucinations and seizures. During use, natural stimulant production slows, so if the drug is stopped there may be depression and lethargy.