Unit name | Pharmacology of the Nervous System |
---|---|
Unit code | PHPH20011 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Doherty |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Pharmacology 1A or Mechanisms of Drug Action |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit addresses the basic mechanisms of drug action, with a primary focus on Neuropharmacology. Major topics include: drug-receptor interactions; the pharmacological investigation of ion channels; central synaptic transmission; the pharmacology of the major classes of drugs affecting normal and abnormal central nervous function.
Aims:
At the end of this unit students should be able to explain the basic principles of pharmacodynamics (how drugs act on the body), how the structural features required for drug-receptor interactions can be determined, understand how drugs modify the actions of major families of ion channels, describe the key features of neurotransmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction and the effect of drugs on this system, describe the major neurotransmitter pathways in the central nervous system and their modification by drugs, understand the concepts of tolerance and physical dependence, explain how drugs are used to treat a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.
At the end of the unit, students should be able to:
Lectures (30)
Practicals (9)
Small group tutorials (4)
Workshops (3)
e-learning (eBiolabs, pre- and post-practical assignments)
Timed assessment (end of unit) 70%
Coursework 30%
Essential Reading
Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology, (Eighth Edition, 2015), Rang HP, Ritter JM, Flower RJ & Henderson G, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, UK. Electronic version is available via the library catalogue website.
Further Reading
Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (Twelfth Edition, 2011), ed. Brunton LL, McGraw-Hill Medical, London. You can consult this book in the library; 11th edition also available.
Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Fourth Edition, 2014), Waller DG, Sampson AP, Renwick AG, Hillier K, Saunders Elsevier, Edinburgh. Section 5 – The Nervous System. Contains practice questions at the end of each chapter.
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (Eleventh Edition, 2009), ed. BG Katzung, Lange Medical Books, New York. Contains a lot of clinically-orientated material; Section V – Drugs that act in the central nervous system; electronic version is available online via the library catalogue website.
Medical Pharmacology at a Glance (Eighth edition, 2016), Neal MJ, Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken. A revision aide, not a complete textbook. Electronic version is available online through the library catalogue website.
A revision aide, not a complete textbook
Studying science: a guide to undergraduate success – (2014) Pauline Millican, J. Heritage Chapter 5 - contains useful guidance on presenting your work, including on writing essays, lab reports, posters and oral presentations. Scan of this chapter available via Blackboard reading list.