BIONB 3920

Drugs and the Brain

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Introduction to neuropharmacology, with and emphasis on the neural mechanisms of psychoactive drugs. Topics include a brief introduction to neuropharmacology and a discussion of the major neurotransmitter families. The rest of the course covers the major psychoactive drugs, including cocaine, heroin, psychedelics, marijuana, as well as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. Includes a term paper in the form of a grant proposal to study a current problem in neuropharmacology.

Prerequisites BIONB 2220 or equivalent course in neurobiology by permission of instructor.

Enrollment Priority Recommended prerequisite: knowledge of biochemistry.

Distribution Requirements (OPHLS-AG), (BIO-AS)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2025FA, 2023FA, 2021FA, 2019FA

Learning Outcomes

• You will be able to predict when drugs are able to enter the brain through the blood brain barrier.
• You will be able to predict the binding fraction of drugs on ligands based on the dissociation constant and other parameters.
• You will be able to synthesize the modern theory of dopamine and addiction with the mechanisms of addictive drugs.
• You will be able to integrate the action of psychiatric drugs with their effects on three major classes of psychiatric disease (schizophrenia, anxiety and depression).
• You will be able to predict how different drugs act on the pain system.
• You will be able to differentiate the actions of multiple drugs, including nicotine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

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