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Your brain is made up of billions of nerve cells. They communicate by releasing chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Each neurotransmitter is like a key that fits into a special "lock," called a receptor, located on the surface of nerve cells. When a neurotransmitter finds its receptor, it activates the receptor's nerve cell. The nicotine molecule is shaped like a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine and its receptors are involved in many functions, including muscle movement, breathing, heart rate, learning, and memory. They also cause the release of other neurotransmitters and hormones that affect your mood, appetite, memory, and more. When nicotine gets into the brain, it attaches to acetylcholine receptors and mimics the actions of acetylcholine. Nicotine also activates areas of the brain that are involved in producing feelings of pleasure and reward. Recently, scientists discovered that nicotine raises the levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the parts of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward. Dopamine, which is sometimes called the pleasure molecule, is the same neurotransmitter that is involved in addictions to other drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Researchers now believe that this change in dopamine may play a key role in all addictions. This may help explain why it is so hard for people to stop smoking. For the source and more detailed information concerning this subject, click on the related links section (NIDA) indicated below.

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15y ago
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9y ago

Nicotine releases the stress in the brain. This help some people better than others.

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Q: How can nicotine effect the brain?
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Related questions

What body systems do nicotine effect?

Nicotine is an extremely addictive drug. When smoking, nicotine enters the bloodstream and goes straight to the brain. The brain is the body system that nicotine effects


Is nicotine a depressent?

No. Nicotine is the opposite of a depressant, it is classified as a stimulant.


What is in cigarettes that is so addicting?

An ingredient called nicotine is what is so addicting. Nicotine travels from the lungs, into the bloodstream, and directly to the brain from there, and nicotine causes the brain to demand more of the nicotine, causing the addiction in cigarettes.


Does nicotine affect your brain?

yes


What effect can such nicotine toxic chemicals have on the body?

Nicotine itself is not especially bad for you, but the other chemicals that go along with smoking AND smokeless tobacco are deadly.


How does nicotine arrive at the brain?

In the bloodstream, from the lungs


What does it mean if your brain is black?

Nicotine poisoning.


What ingredient makes cigerette tabbaco so addicting?

The ingredient nicotine, which goes to the brain and makes the brain demand more of the nicotine, causing the addiction.


How smoking effects the brain?

it affects the brain because the nicotine the chemical that is in the smoke, goes to your brain


What is a nicotine buzz?

Nicotine mimics acetylcholine in the brain producing a very short term euphoric feeling.


Nicotine is considered a?

Drug, because it messes with your brain


Why are people so addicted to cigarettes?

Nicotine is used in the making of cigarettes and most people use it as a depressant.It also causes the release of natural chemicals in our brain called beta-endorphins. These chemicals cause us to feel more alert and calm. The problem is that nicotine isn't stored in the body so these effects last only a few minutes. We need to absorb more and more nicotine to make the effects last. because of nicotine, a drug that makes your brain think that it needs more through physical dependence (that's when you get other side effects when you don't smoke).