Chemistry and Your Brain Is About

Introduction

Chemistry and your Brain is about…

1. Neurochemistry and its influence on our lifes in general
2. The brain, neuronsandsynapses
3. Psychotropics, BraindopingandCognitiveEnhancement
4. Endorphinesandtheirfunctions
5. Love andchemistry

The aims of this project are…

to motivate students to learn more about science in general

to improve the students knowledge about the brain and its parts

to compare different information about love (psychology, science,…)

to increase the students awareness about the dangers of Mind Doping

to have a look at social and cultural differences when working with students from other regions and countries

Prior knowledgeandskills…

All the information and material of this topic was designed by and for students aged 14 – 18.

The students should have basic understanding of science including basic knowledge about the brain and the neural system.

The students should have skills on self dependent search for information in books and on the internet. They schould be able to sum up results and give short presentations.

2. Exchange Form

TO:

Date
Teacher’s name
School
Address
Phone numbers
(inc. dialling code) / Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail address
School websiteaddress

We understand that your class is studying Neurochemistry. We would like to exchange information and the results of our own experiments and research.

We look forward to hearing from your class. Pleasereply.

FROM:

Teacher’sname
School
Address
Phone numbers
(inc. dialling code) / Telephone:
Fax:
E-mailaddress
School websiteaddress

1)Neurochemistry and its influence on our lifes in general

• What do you know about the connection of neurology and chemistry?

• Have you ever thought about the influence of chemistry on your body and mind?

2)The brain, neuronsandsynapses

• What do you already know about your brain? Take your time for a short brainstorming:

• Where does your knowledge about the human brain come from?

School

Internet

TV (documentation,…)

Books, magazines

______

• Are you familiar with the structure of a neuron? Would you like to build a model of a neuron and exchange some pictures?

3)Psychotropics, BraindopingandCognitiveEnhancement

• Do you know what psychotropic drugs are and what they do to your brain?

• Have you ever taken one of the following substances before tests or exams for improving your performance at school? (more answers possible)

Energydrinks

Coffee

Dextrose

Homeopathicremedies

Medicine

• Are there examples of commonly used supplements or drugs in your school/ country?

4)Endorphines

• What are the functions of endorphines?

• Do some students in your class like extreme sports or very spicy and hot food?

5)Love andchemistry

• What do you know about the chemistry of love?

• Do you think the feeling of love is more connected to the processes in your brain or to your „heart“?

• Have you ever thought about the different types of love (passionate, pragmatic, romantic,…)

• Do you think that there are cultural differences when it comes to love and friendship?

• What is your favourite love story (movie, literature,…)? Compare the results in class and send them to us so we can share our results with you.

Do you have own ideas about the topic

CHEMISTRY AND YOUR BRAIN

that have not been covered yet?

3. Information and activity sheets

Neurochemistry and its influence on our lifes

Neurochemistry:

 …is the branch of neuroscience concerned with the chemistry of the nervous system.

 …is the specific study of neurochemicals, which include neurotransmitters and other molecules such as neuro-active drugs that influence neuron function. This principle closely examines the manner in which these neurochemicals influence emotions, concentration, performance etc.

A neurochemical is an organic molecule, such as serotonin, dopamine, or nerve growth factor, that participates in neural activity. The science of neurochemistry studies the functions of these neurochemicals.

2 Examples:

Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain, including the substantianigra and the ventral tegmental area. Dopamineis also a neurohormonereleasedbythehypothalamus.

Serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system. It is a well-known contributor to feelings of well-being; therefore it is also known as a "happiness hormone" despite not being a hormone.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONNAIRE „YOUR BRAIN“

1)How do you judge your knowledge to the topic ‚THE BRAIN AND HOW IT WORKS’ ?

Verygood

Good

Ratherbad

Bad

2)Where did you your knowledge about the human brain? (more answers possible)

School

Internet

TV (documentation,…)

Books, magazines

______

3)Could you name the parts of the human brain or a neuron?

Yes, all of them

Some of them

None at all

4)What do you think about the following sentences?

My brain produces painkillers.TrueFalse

My brain decides who I fall in love with.TrueFalse

If my brain gets damaged my personality could change.TrueFalse

Drugs help my brain to work better/faster.TrueFalse

5) Have you ever taken medicine/pills/homeopathic remedies for being able ……

…to sleep better?YesNo

…to learn better or longer?YesNo

…to become quieter in stressful situation?YesNo

…to improve your performance at school? YesNo

6)Do you know what psychotropic drugs are?

Yes

Yes, but not exactly

No

7) What could be part of a project about the relation of chemistry and the human brain?

Write down some ideas! What would you like to learn about?

Brainstorming: NEUROCHEMISTRY

(ideas, prior knowledge in general, pictures, movies,…)

The brain, neurones and synapses

NEURONS – Worksheet

NEURONS – Worksheet / CORRECT ANSWERS:

• Create a model of a neuron by using clay, playdough, styrofoam, recyclables, ect.

• Use pictures from books to give you an idea of where the components of a neuron should go and what shape they should be.

• Use different colors to indicate different structures. Design a neural circuit with a few of the neurons.

• Choose the size of your model and your material.
• Decide how detailed your model will be.
• Buy Playdough, Styrofoam, bottle caps, cups, paper,…
• Print a picture or diagram of a neuron (look for pictures in books or search on the internet)

THE BRAIN: Synapses

Try to find the correct answers!

Look for help in books or on the internet.

1)What are neurons?

muscle cells

Nerve cells

Brain cells

2)What’s the job of neurons?

they transmit impulses

they build up brain cells

they break down brain cells

3)How many main structures does a synapse have?

2

4

3

4)What are neurotransmitters?

they transmit information between cells

they are specialized cells

they transmit vesicles to the brain

5)Where is the building site of neurotransmitters?

in the postsynapse

in the synaptic cleft

in the praesynapse

6)In synapses information is transmitted...

electrically

chemically

biologically

7)What is the synaptic cleft?

the space between two neurons

the space between two cells

the space between two vesicles

"The Brain Song"

(tune of "CamptownRaces")

byPinkyandthe Brain

Pinky: And now...the parts of the Brain...presented by the Brain
Brain: Yes!

B:Neo-Cortex, Frontal Lobe
P: Brainstem! Brainstem!
B: Hippocampus, Neural Node Right Hemisphere; Pons and Cortex Visual
P: Brainstem! Brainstem!
B: Sylvian Fissure Pineal Left Hemisphere; Cer-e-bellum Left, Cer-e-bellum Right Synapse Hypothalamus, Striatum Dendrite
[Brain dances with tambourine]
B:Axon Fibers, Matter Grey
P: Brainstem! Brainstem!
B: Central Tegmental Pathway, Temporal Lobe; White Core Matter, Forebrain, Skull
P: Brainstem! Brainstem!
B: Central Fissure, Cord Spinal, Parietal; Pia Mater Meningeal Vein Medulla Oblongata and Lobe Limbic Micro-Electrodes
PB: The Brain!

B: That oughta keep the little squirts happy

• Found in:

• YOUTUBE search for: pinky and the brain parts of the brain

PSYCHOTROPICS

A psychoactive drug, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function.

Psychoactive drugs operate by temporarily affecting a person's neurochemistry, which in turn causes changes in a person's mood, cognition, perception and behavior.

There are many ways in which psychoactive drugs can affect the brain. Each drug has a specific action on one or more neurotransmitter or neuroreceptor in the brain.

Illustration of the major elements of neurotransmission. Depending on its method of action, a psychoactive substance may block the receptors on the post-synaptic neuron (dendrite), or block reuptake or affect neurotransmitter synthesis in the pre-synaptic neuron (axon).

Drugs that increase activity in particular neurotransmitter systems are called agonists. They act by increasing the synthesis of one or more neurotransmitters or reducing its reuptake from the synapses.

Drugs that reduce neurotransmitter activity are called antagonists, and operate by interfering with synthesis or blocking postsynaptic receptors so that neurotransmitters cannot bind to them.

Examples:

Neurotransmitter/receptor / Classification / Examples

Adenosine / Adenosinereceptorantagonists / caffeine, theobromine, theophylline

Dopamine / Dopaminereuptakeinhibitors (DRIs) / cocaine, methylphenidate, amphetamine, bupropion
Dopaminereleasers / amphetamine, agomelatine
Dopamineagonists / pramipexole, L-DOPA (prodrug)

BRAINDOPING &

COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT

A cognitive enhancer is a substance that enhances mental functions such as concentration and memory but also for mood stabilization and to cope with emotional distress.

Cognitive enhancers may also be referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers or nootropics.

They are drugs, supplements and functional foods that are meant to improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention, and concentration.

At present, there are several drugs on the market that improve memory, concentration, planning, and reduce impulsive behavior. The original purpose of these drugs is to treat people with cognitive difficulties such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

But the misuse of these drugs by healthy people trying to improve their cognition or memory is very dangerous.

Some dangers of Braindoping are:

• drugaddiction
• unknownsideeffects
• longtermeffects
• emotional distress
• feelingsofinferiority

Somequestionsandideas:

• What do you think about BRAINDOPING?
• Discuss the nagative aspects and risks of such pills and supplements?
• Have you ever tried to improve your mental functions?
• Find some cognitive enhancers that are used in your country and try to find out the ingredients and effects and side effects.
• Read the information about the supplement Amorex below. Do you think such a supplement is helpfull?

COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT: Examplefrom Austria: AMOREX



Amorex is a supplement sold in Austrian pharmacies and since november 2010 also in Italy. According tot he official website its purpose is to cure lovesickness and all other kinds of grief:

„There are many reasons why relationships dissolve or fracture. The husband leaves his wife, the girlfriend leaves her partner, the children leave home, a much-loved companion dies.
AMOREX was developed to provide support in these exceptional life situations. It enhances the increased need for physiologically essential substances that are of particular importance during this phase. AMOREX is taken for lovesickness, during relationship crises, at times of separation and when having to bid farewell.

AMOREX was developed from plant substances that beneficially support the biochemical processes and biological messengers in the body and complement the specific needs arising at this time without causing undesirable side effects.“

(ADVERTISING ON THE OFFICIAL AMOREX WEBSITE)

Ingredients:

• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B6
• Griffoniasimplicifolia Extract = 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a naturally-occurringamino acid and chemicalprecursor as well as metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmittersserotonin and melatonin. 5-HTP is sold in Europe and the US as a dietary supplement for use as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.

Because 5-HTP has not been thoroughly studied in a clinical setting, possible side effects and interactions with other drugs are not well known!

Endorphins

Endorphins

Endorphins ("endogenous morphine") are endogenousopioidpeptides that function as neurotransmitters. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food or sweets, love, etc. In other words, they work as "natural pain killers".

The term "endorphin" implies a pharmacological activity as opposed to a specific chemical formulation. It consists of two parts: endo- and -orphin; these are short forms of the words endogenous and morphine, intended to mean "a morphine-like substance originating from within the body."

Endorphins regulate feelings of pain and hunger and are connected to the production of sex hormones. They are also generated in response to certain spices such as chili peppers. Chili peppers have thus been used as a treatment for certain types of chronic pain.

According to some reports, laughter also releases endorphins in the brain. So besides widening the blood vessels, suppressing the production of stress hormones and raising antibody levels in the blood, laughing would thus also have an analgesic effect.

Early speculations concerning the function of endorphins suggested that they were natural painkillers that the body produced to alleviate pain in circumstances requiring an individual to continue functioning in spite of injury or stress. Examples of such situations might include childbirth, exercise, and combat.

In addition to affecting one's perception of pain, endorphins may be involved in other phenomena such as runner's high and acupuncture. Persons who exercise regularly have higher than usual amounts of β-endorphin in their bloodstream.

Endorphins (or a lack thereof) may be responsible for certain forms of mental illness such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. When you are washing your hands, there's a point when you register that the task has been satisfactorily completed. If endorphins are at least partly responsible for saying "when," a person who doesn't have enough may never receive the mental cue to stop washing his or her hands and will continue until that signal is received.

Usefullwebsites:

Endorphins: RUNNER´s HIGH

The so-called "runner's high" is an effect of endorphin production which occurs when a very exausting exercise (like running, cycling,…) takes a person over a threshold that activates endorphin production.

Endorphins are released during long, continuous workouts, when the level of intensity is between moderate and high, and breathing is difficult.

During a release of endorphins the person may be exposed to bodily harm from strenuous bodily functions after going past his or her body's physical limit.

This means that runners can keep running despite pain, continuously surpassing what they once considered to be their limit.

It is also suggested by many that endorphins are some of the many chemicals that contribute to runner's high; other candidates include epinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.

Love and Chemistry

When you say you and a romantic partner 'have chemistry' you're right! There is a lot of chemistry involved in feeling the emotion of love!

1. Read the following texts about love from two different points of view: social psychology and science! Compare the information. What do the two texts have in common?

1. Try to find out more about the “chemistry of love”. What influences our feelings of love and friendship and how can love be related to biochemistry?

1. Discover more about the social and cultural aspects of love. If you are connected to schools in other regions/countries do the questionnaire or create one yourself. Compare your results.

1. Do you know what chemicals are involved in feeling love? Here are some examples for your further studies:

• phenylethylamineor PEA
• norepinephrine
• dopamine
• oxytocin
• testosterone
• endorphins

TEXT 1)

THE BRAIN ON LOVE

Our emotions, and the emotions of many animals are controlled by how our brain makes chemicals and how those chemicals interact with the cells in your brains.

A part of the emotion known as love is jump-started by neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers released by the nervous system. Their role is to communicate information from one neuron, or nerve cell, to another.

The brain has more than a billion neurons. When a neuron is activated, a message travels as an electrical impulse down the neuron’s threadlike axon toward a synapse. (space between the neurons). This triggers the neuron to release neurotransmitters that cross the synapse and bind to receptors on another neuron. This neuron’s dendrites restart the signal, carrying the message toward its cell body and down its axon. The impulse continues traveling in this manner from neuron to neuron.

Rules of Attraction

The brain has many kinds of neurotransmitters. Each type initiates a different response in your brain.

Some cause the rush of excitement a person feels when they bump into someone they like. Others help that crush progress into a long-lasting relationship.

In humans, a neurotransmitter called oxytocin activates a female’s feelings of affection, trust and security toward another person. In males, oxytocin functions in a similar way.

But another neurotransmitter, called vasopressin, strengthens the bonding experience.

For humans and some animals, oxytocin plays a large role in what is known as par bonding. Pair bonding occurs when two animals develop a strong attachment to each other, which then leads to mating and breeding.

The Stages of Love

Desire

Physical attraction draws to people together. Desire is driven by the sex hormone testosterone found in both men and women.

Romance

A couple becomes intensely focused on each other. The two main neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine play an important role. These chemicals trigger a rush of happiness.

Attachment

A bond is forged that leads to a long-lasting relationship. The neurotransmitters oxytocin and vasopressin help make this connection happen by promoting and strengthening bonding between a couple.