Care to Explain Some of These Things Please? (Chemistry, Biology, Neurology)?

Question by Y2K: Care To Explain Some Of These Things Please? (Chemistry, Biology, Neurology)?
First of all, I’m not Einstein (in a matter of speech as Einstein worked in the topic of physics) so please explain this all carefully, as I am a 14 year old boy, not a college graduate.

First question:
What are Nootropics? I know what they are but explain how do they work, they’re different categories (Amphetamines, Eugeroics, Xanthines, etcetera), what drugs are there in each of the different categories, etc (Caffeine, Modafinil, Nicotine, Methamphetamine (Meth) etcetera) .

Second Question:
The human liver. How does it work? Any way to chemically improve its performance ( I know paradoxical but deal with it) or through some placebo effect ( although must be very powerful otherwise excess chemicals in you blood will kill you even if you think you have the best liver in the world )?

Third question:
Synapses. Brain synapses, how do they work? Any way to (chemically I guess again) induce a state in which neurons perform synapse but instead of having a limited flow of chemicals / electric signals they ‘maintain’ the gateway so synapse occurs more quickly / effectively? Or dramatically exaggerate the ‘focus’ aspect on some parts of the brain (ex.: Instead of paying attention to everything at once (which consumes a lot of energy (if possible even)) you have some sort of ‘tunnel vision’ and only concentrate severely on one particular subject / task?)? Excuse my limited (childish if you must) vocabulary in this subject as I am no expert of it.

Question four:
Chemical / Cell bindings. What certain chemicals attach to certain cells? How? Which are lethal or which are non lethal / neutral? Ex.: What chemicals can attach effectively to red blood cells to help transport lets say Phencyclydine (like hemoglobin help transport oxygen)?

Question five:
What are some lethal / non lethal chemical agents that produce true psychological effects / physiological effects like: Hallucination, Delirium, Vomiting, Muscle Spasms, etc.?

Thank you for you cooperation and help in this question.
No need to answer all five, but if you see that another person answered a question already, try answering the other ones (unless you feel obligated to correct the previous subject in which case I welcome you to do so).

Again, Thank You in advance.
~For Yahoo team, please don’t delete this question if it doesn’t get any answers, as I may need to copy and paste this into another question.

Best answer:

Answer by Doctorwho
Question four:
Chemical / Cell bindings. What certain chemicals attach to certain cells? How? Which are lethal or which are non lethal / neutral? Ex.: What chemicals can attach effectively to red blood cells to help transport lets say Phencyclydine (like hemoglobin help transport oxygen)?

Red blood cells do not transport chemicals through the body. If a chemical is hydrophilic (soluble in water), it is transported in the plasma (the liquid aqueous part of blood), and if the chemical is lipophilic, then it is transported through the bloodstream by lipoproteins or chylomicrons. In the case where the chemical is an antigen, the body produces antibodies which combine with the chemical in an effort to counteract the substance and enable its removal from the bloodstream by the white blood cells.

I have a comment about a part of your third question:

“… Or dramatically exaggerate the ‘focus’ aspect on some parts of the brain (ex.: Instead of paying attention to everything at once (which consumes a lot of energy (if possible even)) you have some sort of ‘tunnel vision’ and only concentrate severely on one particular subject / task?)? …”

Ironically, what you describe was a plot device used in the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert. It was called “focusing of awareness” and was a mental discipline taught by the Bene Gesserit (or Mentats, I can’t remember which one off the top).

What do you think? Answer below!

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