Assignment #5

Drug effects in our brain synapses

Synapses are the way two neurons (or brain cells) are connected. The can either "comunicate" to each other through two methods; chemical or electrical synapse. A chemical synapse is when a molecule - known as neurotransmitter - is released in a sinaptic gap (space between two neurons) where this molecule can interact with receptors in other cells membranes. This can either produce excitatory or inhibitory transmissions, which in the real life can be translated as feelings, thoughts or actions.

Some drugs - such as cocaine, extasy, LSD, crack - are able to modify these answers, making us feel different things. For instance, cocaine is known for its action on neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonine and epinephrin. It's action is raising the levels of these molecules in the sinaptic gap, amplifiying its effect on cells. This is why people feel euphoric, full of energy and confidence during its use. Another example is the effect of extasy, which only modifies neurons responses to serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated to the confidence. It has the same effect of cocaine, increasing serotonin levels in the sinaptic gap and producing effects which lasts for hours. After its effect is over, people tend to get depressed. This is because the neurotransmitter has come to an end and no longer produces its confidence effect. It has been investigated that low levels of serotonin are related to psychiatric disorders, such as depression.

I would like to know more about this topic. Although drug effects are really interesting for me, I would love to know what happens in our brain when we smells things and remember something or stare at someone we love; which areas are involved in knowledge and memories; why do we - literally - allucinate when we get a fever. I have found in this year that I really love Neuroscience and would love to work in the area (either investigating or treating patients with neurological pathologies). I think I like this subject because I believe that the human body is a perfect system. I can't yet understand how a 2.4 pounds-brain could create the culture and language and also keeps us every single day of our lifes alive. I think this topic is really interesting and would love to contribute to its development.

If you want to check out more info, look at:

1. Cocaine effects (animation inclueded): http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n08/doencas/drugs/anim1_i.htm

2. More info about Serotonin: http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/serotonin/home1.htm

Favourite Sites

I study Occupational Therapy, so every website is actually interesting for my area of study, because occupation (an activity with sense, like posting, sharing videos and photos, playing, and so on) is almost everywhere in the Internet.


The sites I have selected are:


1. The International Classification of Functions by the WHO (World Health Organization): this page is really good because it gives a theoretical background and also clear definitions. Check it in http://www.who.int/classifications/icf/site/onlinebrowser/icf.cfm !


2. Disability World: this website has news about disability problems around the world. It is a good site because it can inspire some ideas or just keep someone up to the latest trends in this area. You can see it visiting http://www.disabilityworld.org/ .


Check the out and let me know what you think about them!

My last weekend

My last weekend started really good. On Friday, my boyfriend picked me up from the subway in the afternoon and we went to his house to have a cup of tea and to chat a little bit. After that, we drove to Blockbuster and rented a movie (The Butterfly Effect). We wanted to watch it, but it was kind of late and my boyfriend had a birthday party, so we decided to watch it some other time.
On Saturday, I went to church in the morning. Then I had a family lunch with my two sisters and my parents. My mom cooked a special meal and we could all share how our weekend had been. It was really nice to see my sisters again (they live together in a flat near downtown). Unfortunately my boyfriend couldn't stay, because he had to pick up his mom from a friend's house and then go with her to do some stuff. In the afternoon I had a rehearsal with the band (I sing there) and then I met with my boyfriend to watch the movie we had rented the day before. On Sunday I just stayed at home, wearing my pyjamas all day (I know, kind of lazy.. but I needed to have a lazy day). In the evening, my boyfriend taught me to drive and we also practiced a lot (about an hour). It was really cool, because I could finally drive in real streets instead of just driving around parks.

Homerwork Number 3b

" I have never written in a blog. I have fotolog and facebook but the blogs had never interested me. I don't know why, but here I am. I had to do it for a homework. First, it wasn't nice, I had to spend a lot of time to create it, but now I have started to like it. I think sometimes we need a place to express all our fellings, thougths and opinions and a blog how I see, was created for it. I take this like a game. First, because I'll tell you about something and I love to talk about everything, jajajaj. Second, it has to be in English, the language which I'm learning now and which I love. Mmmmm more than a game, maybe I would like to say that it's a challenge.
I don't know if I'll write a lot
I don't know if I'll write often
But when I'll do it,
I hope you read it. " Taken from Nachi's Blog