Psychology 222 - PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

This course will examine the effects of drugs on the nervous system and associated changes in mood, cognition, and behavior. Legal and illegal recreational drugs will be considered, as well as therapeutic agents used to treat psychological illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia. Focus will be on understanding the effects of drugs on synaptic transmission, as well as how neural models might account for tolerance and addiction. The course will also cover issues with social impact such as the effects of drugs on fetal development, the pharmaceutical industry, and effective treatments for drug abuse. Prerequisite: 210 or 221 or permission of the instructor.