Psychopharmacology and Pharmacotherapy: Genral introduction (week 1
and 2)
How does the Nervous System Function?
from molecules and ions to behavioral systems
Function nervous system: interaction between chemical
activity and electrical activity of assemblies of neurons
Aim of the course discussion on whether psychologists should be able to prescribe psychotropic
drugs, discussing targets of the neurotransmittersystem: curse or cure? Users or losers, role of
addiction, discussion: persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to
midlife
Main levels: organization nervous system
Neurons
Dendritic Trees all kinds of
different neurons Stahl p. 5
Eg stellate cells, basket
cell
, Cellular chemical factory: neuronal components with specific
function
all potential targets for psychopharmaca
Slow versus fast transport in neurons turtles versus rabbits Stahl p. 15
, Major actual targets for psychopahrmaca
Transmembrane-region transporters
Ligand-gated ion channels
Voltage-sesitive ion channel
Enzyme Stahl p. 92
All potential targets for psychopahrmacoloy
Cell nucleus
Neuronal components
Major actual targets for psychopharmaca
Postsynaptic density
Presynaptic densitiy Stahl p. 9
Super-Resolution Dynamic Imaging of Dendritic Spines
Three-dimensional reconstructios of dendrite with spines
Spines: in somatosensory cortex spines disappear and appear
The same for terminaux boutons in the somatosensory cortex: appear and disappear
Molecules and Ions
Neuron 1 axon terminal neuron 2
Several axons running together are a nerve (when outside the brain) or a tract (when inside
the brain)
Macroscopy the CNS is a tube with a thick wall
The cns is a tube willed with fluid (CSF)
Neuroanatomy: light and electron
microscopy
Drugs
Effects are caused by
o An interaction of a drug
o In a certain concentration
o With receptive substances
o On a certain location
o In a certain individual
o After and during a certain time
Space chemically addressed nervous system, anatomically addressed nervous system
TIME
Development of the Nervous System
macroscopic development
brain and spinal cord first
brain fold and neural groove,
then cranial neuropore,
closing neural tube and
caudal neuropore
and 2)
How does the Nervous System Function?
from molecules and ions to behavioral systems
Function nervous system: interaction between chemical
activity and electrical activity of assemblies of neurons
Aim of the course discussion on whether psychologists should be able to prescribe psychotropic
drugs, discussing targets of the neurotransmittersystem: curse or cure? Users or losers, role of
addiction, discussion: persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to
midlife
Main levels: organization nervous system
Neurons
Dendritic Trees all kinds of
different neurons Stahl p. 5
Eg stellate cells, basket
cell
, Cellular chemical factory: neuronal components with specific
function
all potential targets for psychopharmaca
Slow versus fast transport in neurons turtles versus rabbits Stahl p. 15
, Major actual targets for psychopahrmaca
Transmembrane-region transporters
Ligand-gated ion channels
Voltage-sesitive ion channel
Enzyme Stahl p. 92
All potential targets for psychopahrmacoloy
Cell nucleus
Neuronal components
Major actual targets for psychopharmaca
Postsynaptic density
Presynaptic densitiy Stahl p. 9
Super-Resolution Dynamic Imaging of Dendritic Spines
Three-dimensional reconstructios of dendrite with spines
Spines: in somatosensory cortex spines disappear and appear
The same for terminaux boutons in the somatosensory cortex: appear and disappear
Molecules and Ions
Neuron 1 axon terminal neuron 2
Several axons running together are a nerve (when outside the brain) or a tract (when inside
the brain)
Macroscopy the CNS is a tube with a thick wall
The cns is a tube willed with fluid (CSF)
Neuroanatomy: light and electron
microscopy
Drugs
Effects are caused by
o An interaction of a drug
o In a certain concentration
o With receptive substances
o On a certain location
o In a certain individual
o After and during a certain time
Space chemically addressed nervous system, anatomically addressed nervous system
TIME
Development of the Nervous System
macroscopic development
brain and spinal cord first
brain fold and neural groove,
then cranial neuropore,
closing neural tube and
caudal neuropore
