Psychoactive Drugs
Definition
Psychoactive drugs are substances that can alter perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior by changing the brain's neurochemistry.
Analogy
Think of psychoactive drugs like different genres of music playing in your brain. Just as rock music might make you feel energetic and jazz might calm you down, different psychoactive drugs can change your mood and perceptions in various ways.
Related terms
Neurotransmitters: These are the body's natural chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron (nerve cell) to another 'target' neuron.
Hallucinogens: These are a type of psychoactive drug that primarily cause hallucinations—perceptions that have no basis in reality.
Stimulants: This is another category of psychoactive drugs which increase activity in the central nervous system causing increased alertness and energy.
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