Chapter 4 Flashcards
Psychopharmacology
The study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behavior
Drugs
An exogenous chemical not necessary for normal cellular functioning that significantly alters the functions of certain cells of the body when taken in relatively low doses
Drug effects
Observable changes in and individual’s physiology and /or behavior
Sites of action
The locations where drug molecules interact with molecules on or in cells to affect biochemical processes
Pharmacokinetics
The process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized and excreted
Intravenous injection (IV)
Injection of a substance directly into a vain.
Intraperitoneal injection (IP)
Injection of a substance into the peritoneal cavity - the space that surrounds the stomach, intestines, liver, and other abdominal organs
Intramuscular injection (IM)
Injection of a substance into a muscle
Subcutaneous injection (SC)
Injection of a substance into the space beneath the skin.
Oral administration
Administration of a substance into the mouth so that it is swallowed.
Sublingual administration
Administration of a substance by placing it beneath the tongue
Inhalation
Administration of a vaporous substance into the lungs
Topical administration
Administration of a substance directly onto the skin or mucous membrane
Insufflation
Administration of a substance by sniffing or snorting; drug is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the nose
Lipid solubility
The ability of fat-based molecules to pass through cell membranes
Dose-response curve
A graph of the magnitude of an effect of a drug as a function of the amount of drug administered
Therapeutic index
The ratio between the dose that produces the desired effect in 50 percent of the animals and the dose that produces toxic effects in 50 percent of the animals
Affinity
The readiness with which two molecules join together
Tolerance
A decrease in the effectiveness of a drug that is administered repeatedly
Sensitization
An increase in the effectiveness of a drug that is administered repeatedly
Withdrawal symptoms
The appearance of symptoms opposite to those produced by a drug when the drug is administered repeatedly and then suddenly no longer taken
Physical dependence
Compensatory changes following repeated use of a drug that result in withdrawal symptoms when the drug is no longer taken.
Placebo
An inert substance that is given to an organism in lieu of a physiologically active drug; used experimentally to control for the effects of mere administration of a drug
Antagonist
A drug that opposes or inhibits the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell
Agonist
A drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell
Direct agonist
A drug that binds with and activates a receptor
Receptor blocker
A drug that binds with a receptor but does not activate it; prevents the natural ligand from binding with the receptor
Direct antagonist
A synonym for receptor blocker
Noncompetitive binding
Binding of a drug to a site on a receptor; does not interfere with the binding sure for the principal ligand
Indirect antagonist
A drug that attaches to a binding site on a receptor and interferes with the action of the receptor; does not interfere with the binding site for the principal ligand
Indirect agonist
A drug that attaches to a binding site on a receptor and facilitates the actions of the receptor; does not interfere with the binding site for the principal ligand
Glutamate
An amino acid; the most Important excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
Vesicle glutamate transporter
Proteins in the vesicles membrane that pumps glutamate into a vesicle
NMDA receptor
A specialized ionotropic glutamate receptor that controls a calcium channel that is normally blocked by Mg2+ ions; has several other binding sites
AMPA receptor
An ionotropic glutamate receptor that controls a sodium channel; stimulated by AMPA