Final answer:
Soma is a euphoria-inducing drug in 'Brave New World' used to suppress unhappiness and maintain societal control, acting as a depressant to the central nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, soma is a drug used by society to induce euphoric, high feelings of intense elation and pleasure. It acts as a depressant drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity, allowing the ruling government to maintain control over the populace. Soma is distributed to citizens as a means of escaping any discomfort or unhappiness, essentially serving as a tool for social control. The effects of Soma highlight themes similar to those found in evolutionary psychology, particularly in how behaviors and cognitive processes are affected by the environment and societal norms.