Introduction to Psychopharmacology

Human interaction with drugs permeates our society. Alcohol, cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, heroin, and marijuana—all of these chemicals act on the brain and alter an individual's behavior. Psychopharmacology is the study of drugs' effects on behavior and is a growing interdisciplinary field in psychology. This course is designed as an introduction to the methods of psychopharmacology, both in humans and nonhumans. We survey a wide variety of drug classes, select drugs, basic concepts in pharmacology, behavioral methodology, clinical applications, and drug effects on the nervous system. This course is meant to emphasize both historical and classical studies in the field of psychopharmacology, as well as topical developments relevant to present-day issues related to drugs, addiction, and human behavior.