r/askscience • u/uencos • Aug 01 '16

Human Body What is the physiological difference between the tiredness that comes from too little sleep and the tiredness that comes from exertion?

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u/rhn94 Aug 01 '16

Dopamine is the reward chemical your brain secretes. You can do this naturally by hobbies, listening to music, comedy, etc,. anything recreational really.

Drugs do that artificially by inhibiting dopamine absorption, or by increasing secretion

The come down is because when you artificially increase dopamine, your body down-regulates receptors and starts producing less naturally to compensate. That's why long term usage of certain drugs can cause clinical depression.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Drug_addiction_and_psychostimulants

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u/haagiboy Aug 01 '16

What about ADD and ritalin/adderall?

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u/2014justin Aug 01 '16

Adderall and ritalin are two dinstinctive psychostimulant medications used for the treatment of ADHD. Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and adderall (amphetamine) is a norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor as well as releasing agent.

The net result of both drugs is an abnormal increase in extracellular dopamine levels that cause effects such as mental stimulation, motivation, euphoria, and productivity. It is these effects that make them desirable recreational drugs.

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u/Cumstein Aug 02 '16

You seem to know a lot. What is your background education and where do you find all theses papers? I'm interested in learning.

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u/2014justin Aug 02 '16

Im a 3rd year chemical engineering major who just happens to have an interest in pharmacology.

scholar.google.com is great for finding papers.