Instructor:

Dr. Brian P. Bergstrom

Office: SC 431

Office Hours: M 10:00-10:50AM; TTH 9:00-10:50AM

Room: SC 439, MW 12:00-2:50PM

Phone: 8225 Email: brianb@muskingum.edu

Instructor Home page: http://www.muskingum.edu/~brianb/

Course Home page: http://muskingum.edu/~brianb/neuropharm/npharm.html

Course Objective/Description:

The objective of this course is to provide explanations in regards to how drugs act in the brain. The vast majority of this course will be based at the molecular level. Students will leave the course with a basic understanding of neuronal function and the general pharmacological treatments that alter brain neurochemistry. The laboratory will emphasize the principles discussed in class through use of different analytical instrumentation. In addition, students taking this course will be able to discuss/present relevant topics during the semester.

Learning Objectives: These learning objectives coincide with departmental learning goals.

1) Learn and apply pharmacological principles to understand drug action in the brain.

2) Learn and apply how drug targeting alters neurochemistry in the brain.

3) Differentiate the broad classes of drugs based upon their general modes of action.

4) Differentiate the cellular effects of drugs in the various neurotransmitter systems discussed.

Textbooks:

Required

The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology, Eighth Ed., Cooper et al., Oxford University Press, New York, NY.

A Primer of Drug Action, 12^th Ed., Robert M. Julien, Worth Publishers, New York, NY.

Other useful texts but not required:

Neuroscience 2^nd Edition, Purves et al., eds., Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, MA.

Principles of Neural Science 4^th Edition, Kandel et al., eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.

Lecture Schedule:

Date: Topic

1/9 Introduction, Basic Neuronal Function (Chpt. 2-Cooper, Chpt. 3-Julien)

1/16 Basic Neuronal Function Cont. (Chpt. 2-Cooper, Chpt. 3-Julien) No Class Monday

1/23 Receptors (Chpt. 3--Julien, Chpt. 4-Cooper)

1/30 Modulation of Synaptic Activity (Chpt. 5-Cooper)

2/6 Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics (Chpts. 1&2-Julien)

2/13 Neurotransmitters (Chpts. 6-8-Cooper) Exam 1--2/15

2/20 Neurotransmitters (Chpts. 9-11-Cooper)

2/27 Depressants (Chpts.4 & 5-Julien)

3/5 Spring Break—No Class

3/12 Depressants & Stimulants (Chpts. 6 & 7-Julien)

3/19 Stimulants (Chpts. 7 & 8-Julien)

3/26 Analgesics (Chpts. 9 & 10-Julien) Exam 2--3/26

4/2 Hallucinogenics & Psychedelics (Chpts. 11-12-Julien)

4/9 Psychedelics, Antipsychotics (Chpts. 16-17-Julien)

4/16 Antipsychotics, Treating Neurological disorders (Chpts. 17 & 18-Julien)

4/23 Herbal Medicines (Chpt. 20-Julien)

5/3 Exam 3—12 noon.

Grading:

There will be a total of four criteria that will constitute your grade. First, you must attend the lectures. Second, there will be 3 exams during the semester. Third, there will be a group laboratory presentation on a scheduled date. Finally, the laboratory exercises and subsequent reports to be completed as specified. All together, your point total for determining your grade will be calculated by ¾ lecture and ¼ laboratory points.

Attendance Policy: At this point in your studies, it is your sole responsibility to come to the lecture and laboratory. Absences in a course of this stature are self-limiting on academic performance.

Note: This syllabus may be altered during the course of the semester at the discretion of the instructor.