PSYC62H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Caffeine, Inhalant, Sehar
Document Summary
The course should actually be called neuropsychopharmacology; pharmacology refers to the study of how substances affect the body including the brain. Psychopharmacology includes how substances affect behavior by way of having interaction with the body; pharmacology could refer to treating tumors as well. When the term neuro is added, we are talking about how there is an interaction between behavior, the nervous system, and the substance itself (this is a more focused field) Psychoactive substances have an enormous impact on society, and we are all active drug users. Because for most societies, there are a number of accepted substances for us, e. g. caffeine is a common one, and it can be considered a drug depending on how we define it. If i buy caffeine pills, that is a drug. However, if i drink coffee, it is not typically considered a drug.
