Skip to main content

How do drugs affect the brain? - Sara Garofalo

1,562,779 Views

36,905 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Most people will take a pill, receive an injection, or otherwise take some kind of medicine during their lives. But most of us don’t know anything about how these substances actually work. How can various compounds impact the way we physically feel, think, and even behave? Sara Garofalo explains how some drugs can alter the communication between cells in the brain.

In synaptic transmission, several neurotransmitters are released from the sending neuron and some of these are captured by the receiving neuron. Any neurotransmitter that remains is then degraded or reabsorbed into the transmitting neuron. Can you imagine the consequences of an abnormal degradation or reabsorption of neurotransmitters? What happens if neurotransmitters are persistently available in the synaptic space?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Sara Garofalo
  • Director Filip Ugrin
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Producer Draško Ivezić
  • Sound Designer Jure Buljević
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Mind Matters