- published: 12 Apr 2014
- views: 93717
Dopamine, a simple organic chemical in the catecholamine family, is a monoamine neurotransmitter which plays a number of important physiological roles in the bodies of animals. In addition to being a catecholamine and a monoamine, dopamine may be classified as a substituted phenethylamine. Its name derives from its chemical structure, which consists of an amine group (NH2) linked to a catechol structure called dihydroxyphenethylamine, the decarboxylated form of dihydroxyphenylalanine (acronym DOPA). In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerve cells. The human brain uses five known types of dopamine receptors, labeled D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain, including the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area.
Dopamine plays a major role in the brain system that is responsible for reward-driven learning. Every type of reward that has been studied increases the level of dopamine transmission in the brain, and a variety of highly addictive drugs, including stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine, act directly on the dopamine system. There is evidence that people with extraverted (reward-seeking) personality types tend to show higher levels of dopamine activity than people with introverted personalities. Several important diseases of the nervous system are associated with dysfunctions of the dopamine system. Parkinson's disease, an age-related degenerative condition causing tremor and motor impairment, is caused by loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in the substantia nigra. Schizophrenia has been shown to involve elevated levels of dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway and decreased levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex.Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is also believed to be associated with decreased dopamine activity.
Actors: Traci Hays (editor), Traci Hays (director), Larry Silveira (writer), Leah Kolchinsky (actress), Mackenzie Ellis (actress), Dane Forrest Obuchowski (composer), Larry Silveira (producer), Angela Dunford (actress), Stephen Betts (producer), Amy Brinkman (producer), Dan Lloyd (producer), Joe Oliverio (producer), Anthony Chan (actor), Tina Hays (miscellaneous crew), Daniel Craig (actor),
Plot: A short documentary uniquely presented and targeted to teens and youth informing them of the risks associated with using the drug Ecstasy (MDMA.) This documentary film is factual not scary, genuine, and contemporary. In this film real people tell their real stories. The film offers five messages; 3 messages about the risks associated with taking this drug and two strength based messages suggesting that they find balance.
Keywords: abuse, anxiety, balance, beach, bully, bullying, butterfly, confidant, cpr, criticism