Effects of Cocaine On the Brain

Advisor: Patrick McNamaraCoca leaves have been in use by native tribes in South America for thousands of years before the sacred plant was transformed into the drug we know today, cocaine. Warriors used it to remain alert on watch. Shamans used it for more spiritual purposes, while others used it as simply a harmless pass time. The alkaloid for cocaine was first separated in 1855. If only they knew what they had truly discovered. Cocaine would soon become a cure-all for any ailment before quickly becoming banished to the underworld of drugs and crime. While many people in society are quick to dismiss it as an addicting party drug, very few have taken the time to truly understand how this drug functions.This research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)