Transcript Prepared by Grant McLaren, Department of

FOUNDATIONS OF BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
9TH EDITION
Prepared by Grant McLaren, Department of Psychology, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
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Chapter 4
Psychopharmacology
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Psychopharmacology
psychopharmacology
The study of the effects of drugs on the nervous
system and on behavior.
drug effect
The changes a drug produces in an animal’s
physiological processes and behavior.
site of action
A location at which molecules of drugs interact with
molecules located on or in cells of the body, thus
affecting some biochemical processes of these cells.
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Sites of Drug Action
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.
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Principles of Psychopharmacology
Effects on Production of Neurotransmitters
The first step is the synthesis of the neurotransmitter from its
precursors.
In some cases the rate of synthesis and release of a
neurotransmitter is increased when a precursor is administered; in
these cases the precursor itself serves as an agonist. (See step 1
in Figure 4.4.)
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Principles of Psychopharmacology
Effects on Production of Neurotransmitters
The steps in the synthesis of neurotransmitters are controlled by
enzymes.
Therefore, if a drug inactivates one of these enzymes, it will
prevent the neurotransmitter from being produced. Such a drug
serves as an antagonist. (See step 2 in Figure 4.4.)
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter secreted by efferent
axons of the central nervous system.
All muscular movement is accomplished by the release of
acetylcholine, and ACh is also found in the ganglia of the
autonomic nervous system and at the target organs of the
parasympathetic branch of the ANS.
Three systems have received the most attention from
neuroscientists: those originating in the dorsolateral pons, the
basal forebrain, and the medial septum.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Acetylcholine
The acetylcholinergic neurons located in the dorsolateral pons
play a role in REM sleep (the phase of sleep during which
dreaming occurs).
Those located in the basal forebrain are involved in activating the
cerebral cortex and facilitating learning, especially perceptual
learning.
Those located in the medial septum control the electrical rhythms
of the hippocampus and modulate its functions, which include the
formation of particular kinds of memories.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Acetylcholine
botulinum toxin (bot you lin um)
An acetylcholine antagonist; prevents release by
terminal buttons.
black widow spider venom
A poison produced by the black widow spider that
triggers the release of acetylcholine.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Dopamine
dopamine (DA) (dope a meen)
A neurotransmitter; one of the catecholamines.
L-DOPA (ell dope a)
The levorotatory form of DOPA; the precursor of the
catecholamines; often used to treat Parkinson’s disease
because of its effect as a dopamine agonist.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Dopamine
nigrostriatal system (nigh grow stry ay tul)
A system of neurons originating in the substantia nigra
and terminating in the neostriatum (caudate nucleus and
putamen).
mesolimbic system (mee zo lim bik)
A system of dopaminergic neurons originating in the
ventral tegmental area and terminating in the nucleus
accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Dopamine
mesocortical system (mee zo kor ti kul)
A system of dopaminergic neurons originating in the
ventral tegmental area and terminating in the prefrontal
cortex.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Dopamine
Parkinson’s disease
A neurological disease characterized by tremors,
rigidity of the limbs, poor balance, and difficulty in
initiating movements; caused by degeneration of the
nigrostriatal system.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Serotonin
The third monoamine neurotransmitter, serotonin (also called 5HT, or 5-hydroxytryptamine), has also received much
experimental attention.
serotonin (5-HT) (sair a toe nin)
An indolamine neurotransmitter; also called 5hydroxytryptamine.
PCPA
A drug that inhibits the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase
and thus interferes with the synthesis of 5-HT.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Serotonin
fluoxetine (floo ox i teen)
A drug that inhibits the reuptake of 5-HT.
fenfluramine (fen fluor i meen)
A drug that stimulates the release of 5-HT.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Serotonin
LSD
A drug that stimulates 5-HT2A receptors.
MDMA
A drug that serves as a noradrenergic and serotonergic
agonist, also known as “ecstasy”; has excitatory and
hallucinogenic effects.
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Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Amino Acids
GABA
An amino acid; the most important inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the brain.
allylglycine
A drug that inhibits the activity of GAD and thus blocks
the synthesis of GABA.
muscimol (musk i mawl)
A direct agonist for the GABA binding site on the GABAA
receptor.
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