Psychopharmacology

Front 1

Goals of neuropsychopharmacology and why its study is so important to us today?

Back 1

To create therapeutic targets and therapeutic effects that will be curative or preventative

Front 2

Why is pharmaacology important to us today?

Back 2

is to study the effects of drugs on behavior and mental state via the the brain and the nervous system. It is a all encompassing term. Understanding drug actions
in the human body can help clinicians treat patients.

Front 3

Drug Vehicle and its purpose?

Back 3

he fluid that is injected into the test subject along with the drug. Usually Saline is used. Saline is some sort of salt dissolved in water. Scientists inject one subject with only saline, and another subject with a drug dissolved in saline (drugs alone can't be injected, they must be dissolved in some other fluid). The purpose of using this "vehicle" is that scientists can see if there are any changes in the saline treated subject, and can conclude that the changes are due to the injection its self. If there are any changes, then the drug tested subject can also be expected to experience them, and the scientist will know that injection alone is what caused a change, not the drug. This idea is very similar to SHAM lesions. Also think about the placebo effect.

Front 4

Describe the relationship between SS, SL, and LL genotypes on SERT?

Back 4

SS, SL and LL are 3 different Genotypes. SS is the homozygous “short”. SL is the heterozygous “1 long, 1 short”. LL is homozygous “long”. There is a gene that controls how well the serotonin transporter protein recycles serotonin. According to Caspi et al, individuals with the SS gene were found to be more likely to suffer from major depression after they suffered multiple traumatic life events, such as child abuse or neglect, the loss of a job or divorce.

Front 5

Describe how the amygdala-PFC function AND stress responsivity differ in people with the SS versus the SL genotype.

Back 5

The Prefrontal Cortex receives emotional and motivational input and is necessary for logical decision making. The amygdala also helps to modulate emotional behavior. During depression the amygdale and ventral PFC are hyperactive. Volume decreases in the PFC and volume increases Amygdala. These structural alterations come with changed in activity level. This shows that Cognitive Behavior Therapy can change brain activity. This shows neuroplasticity.

Front 6

Describe the difference between premature and perserverative responses in animal tasks. Be sure to provide a statement about what each type of response could mean clinically(in humans)

Back 6

The 5 choice serial reaction time task is a method of screening drugs and other tasks in rats. A rat is considered Premature when they push their nose before seeing the light. This is a marker for impulsivity. Perseverative responses mean that the rat consistently goes to the same stimulus. This shows that the rat is compulsive.

Front 7

Translation in psychopharmacology research

Back 7

A drug study that can be studied in rats, then monkeys, then humans means that it is translational. The drug or study is effective for all species in the same way. And example of this 5HT aggression study by Caspi. Rats, Rhesus monkeys and humans showed the same aggressive results

Front 8

The different Roles of Dopamine(DA) and Serotonin(5HT) in aggressive behavior

Back 8

Increased leveles of DA has shown increased aggression in mice and humans, when looking at the PFC and Nucleus Accumbens.DA also shows aggression in inhibiting the reuptake in nerve terminals. Low serotonin levels in the PFC have associated with increased levels of aggression and violence. SSRI's have been affective in reducing aggression in humans

Front 9

Compare and Contrast how cocaine, amphetamine, and SSRI;s work to boost monoamine neurotransmission

Back 9

Monoamines consist of Dopamine, Norephrinephrine and Serotonin. Cocaine and amphetamines neurochemical difference is that cocaine only blocks DA uptake. Amphetamines not only block the uptake but stimulate DA release

Front 10

How are L-dopa, Schizophrenia and Parkinsons Disease related

Back 10

The Nigrostriatal DA system is targeted in PD. the mesocorticolimbic DA system is targeted in SZ. L-dopa in PD increases DA in the synapse, and at high doses can cause psychotic(SZ) side effects. On the other hand, when treating SZ, the DA is reduced and can show side effects in the nigrostriatl area causing movement side effects(PD)

Front 11

Effect of a Low Trypotophan diet

Back 11

Tryptophane is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan, which comes from the protein in our diet
Typtophan--->tyrpotohydroxylase--->5-hydroxytryptophane. Serotonin is important in mood regulation and inhibiting is bad because it can cause increased depression in humans

Front 12

Schizophrenia

Back 12

a thought disorder disease characterized by illogical thinking and lack of reasoning.
Symptoms begin during late teens and early 20's

Front 13

Positive symptoms in SZ

Back 13

present in the SZ when they should be absent: delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder,

Front 14

Negative symptoms in SZ

Back 14

symptoms are absent in the patient but should be present: weak social skills, speech, sensory gating

Front 15

Prepulse Inhibition of Startle(PPI)

Back 15

focuses on SZ failure to "sensory gate" stimuli. By failing to screen out incoming info they become bombarded by stimuli, causing sensory overload.
In humans it is eyeblink reflex, and in rates the whole body flinch.
This test is delivered by sharp white noise burst. Jumping is a normal reaction. THen they are given the PPI. It is a small white noise before the large one. This allows people to inhibit the startle for the large noise because they are prepared. SZ startle with or without PPI

Front 16

4 Drugs that affect Serotonin system

Back 16

1)DOI: stimulates 5-HT receptors
2)PCA(fhen fen): enhances the release of 5HT and can be toxic
3)Reserpine: depletes 5HT by inhibiting vesicular uptake
4)PCPA: blocks serotonin by inhibiting the typtophan hydroxalase

Front 17

Parts of the DA System

Back 17

1)nigrostriatal: originates in the substantia nigra and innervates the striatum. important role in movement

2)Mesolimbic Pathway: innervates various limbic system structures such as nucleus accumbens and amydala

3)Mesocortical Pathway: innervates the cerebral cortex. Mesolimbic and Mesocorical are important because they are implicated in neural mechanisms for drug abuse and SZ