Drugs that affect behavior-including both medical drugs such as Ritalin and illegal drugs such as cocaine-exert their effects mainly by altering the

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Drugs that affect behavior primarily alter activity at synapses, which are the spaces between neurons where chemical signals are transmitted. Medical drugs such as Ritalin work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine in the synapse, while illegal drugs such as cocaine act by blocking the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, leading to an increase in their availability. This alters the communication between neurons and ultimately affects behavior.

Drugs That Affect Behavior-Including Both Medical Drugs Such as Ritalin