PSYC 3250 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Indolamines, Locus Coeruleus, Raphe Nuclei

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3250
• Professor: J De Souza

Document Summary

Psychopharmacology: the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and on behaviour. Drug effects: the changes a drug produces in an animals physiological processes and behavior. Two receptor types receptor types (ionotropic and metabotropic) Being a neurotransmitter: what does it take: exists pre-synaptically, released in response to action potential, application at synapse produces response, post-synaptic membrane has receptors, blocking release stops synaptic function. What is a drug? all ingested substances alter bodily function drug is reserved for things that have pronounced effects when ingested in small quantities. Sites of action: the locations at which drugs interact with cells of the body, thus affecting some biochemical processes of these cells. Agonist: a drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell. Antagonist: a drug that opposes or inhibits the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell: precursor to neurotransmitter, stimulate release, receptor binding, block autoreceptors, inhibition of reuptake, inhibition of deactivation.