Discover Psychology: Drugs and the Brain
Full course description
At the start of their Bachelor’s, students often do not yet have a clear idea of what psychology has to offer in terms of content. Discover Psychology (see general description of module IPN1029) is meant to help students find their bearings in the field. Students have the opportunity to explore a specific theme, by choosing between numbers of brief courses, provided by staff members from various departments. In addition, students are introduced to the research that is begin carried out by the different departments within FPN; several Professors are invited to tell students about their line of research within our faculty.
The elective track ‘Drugs and the Brain’ deals with the neural and behavioral effects of several well-known drugs. How does each drug influence the brain, and how do the characteristic behavioral effects arise? What role do neurotransmitters play in this process? Does the general public’s popular opinion reflect the actual dangers of a drug? Is a legal drug such as alcohol safer than illegal drugs? Could certain illegal drugs actually have valuable medicinal applications?
Course objectives
Students:
- are able to explain the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the behavioural effects of a number of well-known drugs of abuse;
- are able to understand the research paradigms and methods used in psychopharmacological research and evaluate the findings.