1. Dopamine by Leila Burridge and Emily Little

2. Dopamine and It’s Uses ●Neurotransmitter ●Helps transmit signals in brain and other vital areas ●Found in humans and animals, including vertebrates and invertebrates ●Mainly inhibitory ●Involved in voluntary movement, learning, arousal, and feelings of pleasure ●Strongly determines motivation

3. Dopamine Production in the Brain ●Produced naturally in the body ●Found in the regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation and the feeling of pleasure ●Produced in the dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) ●Produced in the substantia nigra pars compacta ●Produced in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus

4. What causes an Excess of Dopamine? Internal Causes: ●High levels of stress ●Sleep quantity and quality ●Food External Causes: ●Medications ●Drug abuse of drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can lead to drug-induced psychosis and schizophrenia ●Nicotine

5. Effects of Excess Dopamine in Brain ●Weak-willed, impulsive behaviour ●Need for instant gratification ●Lack of motivation ●High levels of dopamine are found in patients with AD/HD ●Suspicious personality, paranoia, withdrawal from social situations

6. What causes a Dopamine Deficiency? Dopamine levels drop due to ●Stress ●Certain Antidepressants ●Drug and Alcohol use ●Poor nutrition ●Lack of Sleep ●Excessive Caffeine intake ●Excessive Sugar intake

7. Effects of Dopamine Deficiency Lack of Dopamine in the brain can cause ●Onset of Parkinson's Disease ●Restless Leg Syndrome ●Creativity ●Sleep Problems ●Depression ●Trouble Focusing

8. Arvid Carlsson ●Researched dopamine extensively in the late 1950’s. ●Showed that dopamine was a neurotransmitter in the brain and not just a precursor of norepinephrine. ●Discovered that a lack of dopamine in some areas of the brain could disrupt pathways among nerves that control movement and motor functions. ●This causes Parkinson’s disease. ●Parkinson’s disease symptoms: tremors, rigid muscles, speech changes, etc. ●Carlsson developed a drug called levadopa (L-dopa) to treat Parkinson’s disease. ●L-dopa transforms into dopamine in the brain and helps to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms.

9. Bibliography ●http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dopamine.aspxhttp://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dopamine.aspx ●http://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspxhttp://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspx ●http://www.livestrong.com/article/195851-what-are-the-causes-of-low- dopamine-levels/http://www.livestrong.com/article/195851-what-are-the-causes-of-low- dopamine-levels/ ●http://www.livestrong.com/article/73358-side-effects-lack-dopamine/http://www.livestrong.com/article/73358-side-effects-lack-dopamine/ ●http://www.livestrong.com/article/50422-effects-low-dopamine-levels/http://www.livestrong.com/article/50422-effects-low-dopamine-levels/ ●http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5206277_causes-high-levels- dopamine_.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask#page=5http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5206277_causes-high-levels- dopamine_.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask#page=5 ●Haralambos, Michael, and David Rice. Psychology in Focus. Ormskirk: Causeway, 2000. Print.Haralambos, Michael, and David Rice. Psychology in Focus. Ormskirk: Causeway, 2000. Print.

10. Questions?