Neuropharmacology: Cns Disorders And Drug Mechanisms

Central Nervous System Pharmacology: Mechanisms of Drugs, Neurotransmitters, and Brain Disorders

What you'll learn

Explain how drugs alter neuronal communication through receptor and ion channel interactions.

Identify key neurotransmitter systems and their roles in central nervous system disease.

Understand the mechanism of action and molecular pathways of drugs used in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Develop technical scientific writing skills.

Develop a capacity for independent literature search and information retrieval relevant to a specific topic.

Develop critical thinking and learn to integrate knowledge from other areas of biology.

Understand the pathophysiology of central nervous system disease.

Requirements

University degree in a bioscience field, with knowledge of basic pharmacology (a bit easier).

Basic understanding of biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology (more challenging).

Description

This university-quality neuropharmacology course delves into the molecular mechanisms that influence neural activity, neurotransmitter synthesis and interplay, psychiatric disease pathology, and potential molecular targets for new therapies. You will explore the interactions between neurotransmitters, receptors, and drugs, focusing on how these interactions influence the nervous system in both normal and diseased states. Emphasis will be placed on pharmacodynamics, neurochemical and molecular pathways, understanding of disease mechanisms, and current developments in therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of how drugs influence brain function and the underlying mechanisms of central nervous system disease.You will be expected to have adequate background knowledge in the basics of pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and neuroscience. This course will not be easy, but it will equip you with a valuable theoretical understanding of neuropharmacology. You will develop critical thinking skills and learn to integrate knowledge in other bioscience fields with the ever-evolving field of neuropharmacology.This 11-week course is designed for an engaging and immersive learning experience. You should plan to dedicate at least three hours each week to studying and revising. You’ll dive into lectures, reading materials, and practice tests and quizzes each week to reinforce your understanding. Graded assessments will take place at the end of weeks 6 and 10, allowing you to gauge your progress. In the final week, you’ll complete a research project to test your knowledge and showcase your mastery of the course content. Have fun learning, science nerd!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction to Neuropharmacology

Lecture 2 General Principles in Pharmacology

Lecture 3 Further Reading

Section 2: Chemical Transmission and Drug Action in the CNS

Lecture 4 Chemical Signalling in the Nervous System

Lecture 5 Targets of Drug Action in the CNS

Lecture 6 Futher Reading

Section 3: Neurotransmitters in the CNS

Lecture 7 Glutamate – The Major Excitatory Neurotransmitter

Lecture 8 γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Glycine

Lecture 9 Monoamine Neurotransmitters

Lecture 10 Further Reading

Section 4: Neurodegenerative Diseases

Lecture 11 Mechanisms of Neuronal Death

Lecture 12 Alzheimer's Disease

Lecture 13 Parkinson's Disease

Lecture 14 Further Reading

Section 5: Analgesic Drugs

Lecture 15 Neural Mechanisms of Pain

Lecture 16 Analgesic Drugs

Lecture 17 Further Reading

Section 6: Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Drugs

Lecture 18 The Nature of Anxiety and Its Treatment

Lecture 19 Benzodiazepines

Lecture 20 Other Axiolytic Drugs

Lecture 21 Drugs Treatment of Insomnia

Lecture 22 Further Reading

Section 7: Antipsychotic Drugs

Lecture 23 The Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia

Lecture 24 Antipsychotic Drugs

Lecture 25 Further Reading

Section 8: Antidepressant Drugs

Lecture 26 The Nature of Depression

Lecture 27 Antidepressant Drugs

Lecture 28 Further Reading

Section 9: Antiepileptic Drugs

Lecture 29 The Nature of Epilepsy

Lecture 30 Antiepileptic Drugs

Lecture 31 Further Reading

Section 10: Psychoactive Drugs

Lecture 32 CNS Depressants

Lecture 33 Further Reading

Section 11: Research Project

Lecture 34 The Final Countdown!

Lecture 35 Course Materials

Students with previous knowledge of pharmacology who want to gain specialized knowledge in neuropharmacology.,Specialists in other bioscience fields, who want to expand their scope of knowledge in neuropharmacology.,Science lovers with basic knowledge of biochemistry, pharmacology and neuroscience. who like a good challenge.