The effect of drugs on the nervous system

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The effect of drugs on the nervous system

A drug is defined as a substance that, when absorbed into the body, alters a normal bodily function. Some are able to do this, as they are capable of producing an array of different effects on the nervous system. The reason why affecting the nervous system of an organism is potentially so significant is due to the nature of it. The fact the nervous system directs the functions of all the tissues of the body demonstrates its considerable role within the body. It can therefore be assumed that taking substances which affect how it works may lead to a distortion in the way your body is run, producing unsafe side effects.

The term nervous system is actually used to describe two divisions. The central nervous system (CNS) is the part which contains the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) however, consists of all the sensory neurones used to detect stimuli. The PNS receives thousands of sensory inputs and transmits them to the brain via the spinal cord. The brain will then process this information, discarding around 99% of it as unimportant. After this sensory information has been processed, areas of the nervous system generate nerve impulses to organs or tissue and form a suitable response.

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As influences from chemicals are able to affect how the nervous system functions, it can be assumed that chemicals such as drugs are potentially able to change the way an organism functions. Whilst our knowledge of different regions of brain function and neurotransmitters within the brain is limited, explanations involving the mechanisms of drugs may be vague. The neurotransmitters known to man are Ach (acetylcholine - involved with memory and learning), norepinephrine (involved with mania-depression and emotions) and serotonin (involved with biological rhythms, sleep, emotion, and pain). Different drugs stimulate the nervous system differently, with each drug able to ...

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Grammar is good, but one or two awkwardly worded sentences meaning that the sentence is slightly unclear to the reader in the introduction. Spelling and punctuation very good.

Level of analysis and communication is very good. Describes the PNS and CNS very well. When it says that the neurotransmitters in the brain are not well known and the mechanisms of neurotransmitters are also not well known this is wrong as whilst the mechanism of neurotransmitters is not well described at a level, it is well researched at university level. Also breaks down the neurotransmitters into three different ones when in fact there are more neurotransmitters such as VIP, substance P, glutamate and GABA. Provides different examples of drugs and how they effect the nervous system, however I would like to see the different side effects explained more clearly rather than just being listed. Does not explain the difference between agonists, antagonists, partial agonists and so forth very well.

Overall a very good piece.The introduction is good, but does not set up what the candidate is trying to investigate very clearly. Too much wording in places that could be cut down significantly to make the response clearer. Uses awkward terms in the introduction rather than straight scientific facts. Conclusion is adequate but brings in one or two scientific things that are not explained a great deal in the main body of text. The main body of the text is very well analysed and shows scientific thinking that is beyond a level in places.