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| Undergraduate |
(SCI)
|
Leader: Dr Richard Loiacono
Offered:
Clayton Second semester 2005 (Day)
Synopsis: Neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) and principles of drug actions on CNS neurotransmission. The effects of drugs on endocrine function, including the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, reproduction and the thyroid gland. Mechanisms of action, uses, adverse effects and interactions and where appropriate, potential for tolerance, addiction and abuse of drugs used for the following: general anaesthesia, sedation, treatment of anxiety, insomnia, depression, epilepsy, psychoses, Parkinson's disease, dementia, pain, abnormalities of satiety, and endocrine disorders. Drugs of abuse including opiates, stimulants, hallucinogens, sedatives and inhalants.
Objectives: On completion of this unit, students will: have a broad understanding of how drugs can affect the nervous and endocrine systems; have developed an understanding of how drugs can affect neurotransmission within the brain; understand the potential for tolerance, addiction and abuse of many drugs that affect the brain; understand the hazards and dangers associated with tolerance, addiction and abuse of many drugs that affect the brain; understand the mechanisms of action, uses, adverse effects and interactions of drugs acting on the nervous and endocrine systems; have developed an understanding of the molecular biological and genetic techniques being applied to understand neuropharmacology and endocrine pharmacology at the cellular level; have developed skills to critically evaluate the scientific literature in neuropharmacology and endocrine pharmacology; have some understanding of the design, performance, evaluation and reporting of experiments in neuropharmacology and endocrine pharmacology; have skills in obtaining and using scientific information to write and present reports and essays.
Assessment: Examination (2 hours): 50% + Written assignment: 20% + Laboratory work and written practical reports : 20% + Test (1 hour): 10%
Contact Hours: Two 1-hour lectures and three hours of laboratory or self-directed learning/ tutorial per week