Psy212 Ch7 classical conditioning B - Lane Community CollegeClassical Conditioning B 3 5/3/2010 Compensatory Responses Compensatory The body usually tries to maintain a responses:

Classical Conditioning B 1 5/3/2010

Compensatory Responses

It was observed that some people mysteriously died of a drug overdose. The reasons that it appeared mysterious is that

(a) They were experienced drug users (b) They does of drug that they overdosed on, was not

that different from what they were usually taking.

However, it was discovered that many of these overdoses occurred in a location that the drug user normally did not take the drug (e.g. actor River Phoenix). Why would the location of where a person takes the drug make a difference?


Compensatory Responses Your body tries to maintain a delicate balance of biological functioning or homeostasis. For example,

• If we are thirsty, we drink • If we are hungry, we eat • If we are tired, we sleep Likewise, • if we take a stimulant, our body slows down • if we take a depressant, our body is stimulated



Compensatory The body usually tries to maintain a responses: state of homeostasis. When people use

drugs, the body and brain attempts to counteract the effects of the drug and produces reactions that are opposite to that of the drug.

Compensatory responses can help explain drug tolerance, withdrawal effects and cravings for a drug. Tolerance: Decreased responsivity to a drug

(usually you need to increase the dosage to get the same effects)

Withdrawal: The experience of strong reactions

opposite to those produced by the drug

The withdrawal symptoms may be thought of the body’s compensating response still becoming active in the absence of the drug.


Drug Tolerance

Tolerance: Decreased responsivity to a drug (usually you need to increase the dosage to get the same effects)

Tolerance Dosage Effect

January

February

March

April


Drug Tolerance

Tolerance: Decreased responsivity to a drug (usually you need to increase the dosage to get the same effects)

Tolerance Dosage Effect

January

February

March

April



Compensatory The body usually tries to maintain a responses: state of homeostasis.

When people use drugs, the body and brain attempts to counteract the effects of the drug and produces reactions that are opposite to that of the drug.

Dosage + Compensatory

Response = Drug Effect

Drug + - Counteracts drug January

February

March

April


Withdrawal Effects

Withdrawal: The experience of strong reactions opposite to those produced by the drug

The withdrawal symptoms may be thought of the body’s compensating response still becoming active in the absence of the drug.

Dosage Compensatory Response

Drug Effect

Withdrawal

January

February

March

April

May


Examples of Drugs and their Compensatory Responses (that can lead to withdrawal effects)

Drug Drug Effects Withdrawal effects Nicotine Increase in heart

rate Slowing of the heart rate

Heroin Slows stomach contracts, constipation

Stomach cramps, diarrhea

Amphetamines Manic sense of well-being and euphoria

Severe depression

Tranquilizers Slows the body down

Arouses the body


Classically Conditioned Compensatory Responses

Dosage Compensatory Response

Drug Effect

Withdrawal

January

February

March

April

May 1

Withdrawaleffects

May 2

Drug

overdose

(a new location that doesn’t trigger the compensatory response)






Phobias / Anxiety






Documents

Psy212 Ch7 classical conditioning B - Lane Community CollegeClassical Conditioning B 3 5/3/2010 Compensatory Responses Compensatory The body usually tries to maintain a responses: