Drugs & the Brain

BIOL21312 Drugs & the Brain 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 2 Richard Prince Unit coordinator School of Biological Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 Drugs and the Brain outlines the important types of drugs, including anaesthetics, antipsychotics and antidepressants, which are used to influence activity in the brain. You will learn how these drugs act on neurotransmitters and the side effects that their actions can cause. Drugs and the Brain outlines the important types of drugs, including anaesthetics, antipsychotics and antidepressants, which are used to influence activity in the brain. You will learn how these drugs act on neurotransmitters and the side effects that their actions can cause. To describe the aetiology and symptomology of a range of brain disorders the range of mechanisms by which drugs can interfere with neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS) how neurotransmitter activities can be modified by drugs leading to the rational treatment of CNS disorders how an understanding of neurotransmitters and mechanisms of drug action can lead to more selective treatment of CNS disorders. After completing the unit and recommended reading, students should have an understanding of: basic mechanisms of brain disorders important classes of drugs used in medicine and/or biological research to influence central neuronal activity, particularly in humans the mechanisms of action of these drugs in terms of their effects on major neurotransmitters mechanism-related drug side-effects Group/team working Students complete a group-based coursework exercise… They are also encouraged to support each other using the unit Padlet board Oral communication Students can choose a video presentation format for their reflective coursework Written communication Students can choose a website based format for their reflective coursework •    Introduction to neuropharmacology•    The central synapse: neurotransmitter systems as targets for drug therapy•    Accessing the central synapse: the blood-brain barrier to drugs•    Pharmacology of neurodegenerative disorders  •    Pharmacology of general anaesthetics and local anaesthetics•    Pharmacology of antipyretic-analgesic drugs•    Pharmacology of opioid analgesic drugs•    Pharmacology of antiepileptic drugs•    Pharmacology of anxiolytic drugs•    Pharmacology of CNS stimulants and psychotomimetics•    Pharmacology of antipsychotic drugs•    Pharmacology of antidepressant drugs  Core taught material: 33 hoursStudents will be expected to complete 1 eLearning module per week, containing approximately 1 hour of pre-recorded video content or equivalent.Each week there will also be 1 hour of live-lecture content that builds on the eLearning module and a 1 hour face-to-face active learning session.     0 Other 20% 1 Written exam 80% On campus written exam (1.5 hours) comprising two sections. Section A: a choice of 3 out of a choice of 4 short note questions; Section B: a choice of 5 out of 6 short note questions  Written feedback on coursework. Post-exam guidance.  BIOL10822 Drugs: From Molecules to Man Pre-Requisite Compulsory BIOL10832 Excitable Cells: the Foundations of Neuroscience Pre-Requisite Compulsory BIOL11822 Drugs: From Molecules to Man Pre-Requisite Compulsory BIOL11821 Drugs: From Molecules to Man Pre-Requisite Compulsory BIOL21312 Pre-requisites are BIOL10822 OR BIOL10832 Or BIOL11822 OR BIOL11821(students only need to have taken ONE of the compulsory pre-requisites) N Assessment written exam 1.5 eAssessment 16 Lectures 15 0 67.5