Course Objectives:  The main goal of this course is to provide you with a thorough overview of the biological basis of behavior.  Research in Neuroscience, spans all levels of the organism: single cells, single neurotransmitter systems, brain regions and the entire integrated organism.  We will explore specific functions of brain regions and relate that neurological functioning to behaviors in everyday life.  We will see that our brain is actually two halves that have slightly different functions and when working properly communicate with one another with millisecond timing.  We will learn the specific functions of chemicals located in the brain and how drug treatments for psychological disorders are aimed at modulating these endogenous chemicals.  We will determine how our senses combine with previous knowledge to allow for perception of the world around us.  We will determine which brain structures are responsible for learning and memory and what the consequences are when these structures are damaged by trauma or aging.

Because the field and research methods of Neuroscience are broad, throughout the semester we will encounter evidence from basic research, applied research, animal research, human research, empirical research articles and textbook readings, which will come from a variety of subdisciplines within Neuroscience.

Classroom discussions and course-related assignments will enable you to understand and discuss:

• landmark and current research in the field of neuroscience.
• limitations of our current understanding of the brain and its functions.
• the interaction of nature and nurture on brain development.
• the behavioral and biological effects of disease, drugs, aging, and stress
• neuronal plasticity in terms of learning and recovery of function.

More generally, you should also be able to:

• Appreciate how the study of the brain is relevant to your life
• Use the scientific terminology of neuroscience appropriately
• Read and critically evaluate journal articles, web sites, and popular press articles about neuroscience
• Appreciate the complexity of the brain and nervous system, particularly with respect to control of behavior, and understand some of the challenges faced by researchers

Required Textbook:
Pinel, JPJ (2009).  Biopsychology (7^th Edition).  United States: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon.

Course Schedule:

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Course Objectives: This course is an introduction to the pharmacological and psychological mechanisms of drugs that influence brain functioning. We will investigate drug use and drug actions by drawing from scientific investigations of their use. The course will cover basic structure and function of the nervous system, drug classification and development, basic principles of pharmacology, as well as the role of learning and addiction. We will spend most of our time discussing the behavioral, cognitive, and physiological effects of specific drugs of abuse and neuropharmacological use.

Content Learning Goals:

1. Students will be able to correctly identify the location and accurately describe the function of main brain regions, especially those involved in higher cognitive abilities, addiction and NT synthesis.
2. Students will correctly delineate the electrical and chemical processes of neuronal communication and recognize the impact of different pharmacological agents in that process.
3. Students will accurately describe the relationships between binding affinity, receptor kinetics, strength and dose of a drug, as well as classes of drugs.
4. Students will understand NT synthesis, enzymatic activity, endogenous degradation, half-life and metabolism of chemicals as part of the cycle of drug activity.
5. Students will recognize the complexity of the brain, how the basic mechanisms described above enable an organism to survive and thrive in the world, and how much remains for us to discover, especially in neuropharmacology.
6. Students will be able to accurately place the principles of learning within the context of drug use, abuse and withdraw.
7. Students will better understand the inter-relationship between the brain and the surrounding world.