How the brain works

Drug influence: summarizing

1. The release of transmitters is intensified or diminished, causing greater or smaller amounts of them to enter the synaptic cleft (as happens with speed).
2. The breakdown by MAOs is interfered with, causing transmitters to remain in the synaptic cleft (as with speed).
3. The return to the axon, meslideted by reuptake proteins, is interfered with, causing transmitters to remain in the synaptic cleft (as with cocaine).
4. The transmitters are mimicked. The drug binds to the same receptors (as with cannabis).
5. A drug binds to the same receptor as a neurotransmitter, thereby blocking the receptor so signals can’t be transmitted (ketamine).
6. The drug binds on a different spot on the receptor, thereby changing the function of the receptor (alcohol).