Psychopharmacology

Question 1

What is the definition of psychopharmacology?

Answer 1

Study of the effect of drugs on the nervous system and behaviour, is also a tool to study the mechanisms by which the brain controls psychological function

Question 2

What is the definition of an agonist and an antagonist?

Answer 2

agonist - facilitates the effects of a neurotransmitter
antagonist - inhibits the effects of a neurotransmitter
Some drugs can be either depending on the dosage

Question 3

What are the most common types of neurotransmitter in the brain?

Answer 3

Glutamate (excitatory)
GABA (inhibitory)
Can have neuromodulatory effect

Question 4

What are the 4 types of glutamate receptor?

Answer 4

1. NMDA
2. Kainate
3. AMPA
4. Metabotropic glutamate receptors

Question 5

What are the 2 types of GABA receptors?

Answer 5

1. GABA(a) ionotropic

2. GABA(b) matabotropic

Question 6

What are the two types of receptors for Ach (acetylecholine)?

Answer 6

Nicotinic - ionotropic (also found in muscles)

Muscarinic - metabotropic (cholinergic only found in the brain)

Question 7

What are the 3 main systems that use acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter?

Answer 7

1. Dorsolateral pons - projects to the thalamus and is associated with sleep & learning
2. Basal forebrain - Projects to a large area and is associated with learning and attention, degrades in Alzheimer’s
3. Medial septum - Major cholinergic input to the hippocampus and is also associated with learning and memory

Question 8

What neurotransmitters and receptors does the dopamine system use?

Answer 8

Neurotransmitters - Catecholamine and noradrenaline

5 receptors, most of which metabotropic

Question 9

What are the 3 main dopaminergic regions of the brain?

Answer 9

1. Nigrostriatal - controls action selection and movement
2. Mesolimbic - associated with reward or secondary reinforcer
3. Mesocortical - short term memory

Question 10

What neurotransmitters and receptors does the noradrenergic system use?

Answer 10

4 receptors (alpha 1/2, beta 1/2) all metabotropic 
uses catecholamine

Question 11

Where does the noradrenergic system originate and what is it associated with?

Answer 11

In the locus coreulus - associated with vigilance and attentiveness

Question 12

What neurotransmitter is used by the serotinergic system and what receptors does it use?

Answer 12

Indolamine

9 receptor types that are mostly metabotropic

Question 13

Where does the serotinergic system originate and what is it associated with?

Answer 13

Ralphe nuclei - associated with regulation of mood, eating, sleep and pain

Question 14

What is neuromodulation?

Answer 14

The effect by which activation of a small area of the brain can have large impacts on the rest of the brain