Name _______________________________________________________________Period _______
Unit 5 Webquest – The Science of Addiction
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/
1. From The Brain's Reward Pathways section, explore "The Reward Pathway Reinforces Behavior."
Then, from the Drugs and the Reward Pathway section, read "Beyond the Reward Pathway."
Summarize the information about Gaba and Glutamate.
2. From the Drugs and the Reward Pathway section, check out Drug Use Changes Over Time. Read
the page, then push the mouse button in the last section. What happens to cocaine users' brains?
3. From the Timing and Circumstances section, read "The Adolescent Brain." What did you find out
about risk-taking and the prefrontal cortex?
4. From the Drugs and the Reward Pathway section, check out How Drugs Can Kill.
Complete the following chart.
Polydrug Cocktails: Heroin and Alcohol
Nicotine
Cocaine and other stimulants
5. From Drugs and the Reward Pathway, explore "Mouse Party." Mouse party is designed to
provide a small glimpse into the chemical interactions at the synaptic level that cause the drug
user to feel “high.” Navigate through the mouse party and answer the following questions.
Eddie the Ecstasy Mouse
A) When the transporter takes in the ecstasy, what does it do with the excess serotonin?
B) How does ecstasy cause “the high”? In other words, how does it over stimulate the receptors?
C) What are the serotonin pathways responsible for that ecstasy effects?
Annie the Alcohol Mouse
A) GABA Neurotransmitters are responsible for what?
B) What two things happen when Alcohol enters the brain?
C) Why is memory affected when people drink too much?
Carter the Cocaine Mouse
A) What happens when cocaine blocks the dopamine transporters?
B) Why are cocaine users so fidgety?
Miley the Marijuana Mouse
A) Cannabinoid receptors turn off the release of what?
B) What does THC do?
C) How are THC and anandamide similar? How are they different?
D) Name 2 parts of the brain marijuana affects.
Lucy the LSD Mouse
A) Why does LSD have complex sensory effects?
B) What is the LC and what does it do?
Max the Meth Mouse
A) How does Meth get into your body’s cells?
B) What does the excess dopamine end up doing?
C) Why is Meth so addictive?
6. In the Challenges and Issues section, read "Seeds for Thought." Four questions are given. Choose
one and answer it here. Be sure I can tell which one you are answering.