PSY251 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Serotonergic, Decision-Making, Neocortex
Document Summary
Psychopharmacology=examines the effects drugs have on mood, sensation, thinking and behaviour. The distribution of cholinergic systems (acetylcholine) in the brain. Starts in the mid brain and projects out to the cerebral cortex and the thalamus, amygdala and forebrain. The distribution of noradrenergic (norepinephrine) systems in the brain. Low serotonin is linked to depression and anxiety. Projects across the amygdala, hippocampus, neocortex, thalamus and cerebellum. Most drugs exert their effects by influencing synaptic chemical signalling. Agonist-is a drug(substance) that enhances the function at a synapse. Antagonist-is a drug(substance)that blocks or decreases the function of a synapse. A learned behaviour results when a response to a stimulus weakens with repeated presentations overtime. Metabolic tolerance-the number of enzymes in the liver, blood or brain used to break down the substance e. g. as a result alcohol is consumed and metabolized more quickly, so blood alcohol levels are reduced.
