Psychology

Drugs, Brain and Behaviour

Module code: C8528
Level 6
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture
Assessment modes: Computer based exam, Coursework

On this module, you’ll develop an overview of the psychological, pharmacological, neurobiological and neurophysiological bases of drug use, abuse and contemporary understanding of addiction (and some mental conditions).

You‘ll discuss the acute and long-term effects of selected drugs of abuse on behaviour, mood, cognition and neuronal function, using empirical findings and theoretical developments from both human and non-human subject studies on the neurobiological and psychological basis of drug action and addiction.

You’ll also discuss the anatomical, neurochemical and cell-molecular mechanisms targeted by psychoactive drugs and their distribution, regulation and integration in the broader central nervous system.

The focus is on potentially addictive drugs, and the major classes are discussed, including:

  • opiates (heroin and morphine)
  • psychomotor stimulants (amphetamine and cocaine)
  • sedative-hypnotics (alcohol, barbiturates and chloral hydrate)
  • anxiolytics (benzodiazepines)
  • marijuana
  • hallucinogens (LSD, mescaline)
  • hallucinogenic-stimulants (MDA, MDMA).

With the knowledge of the basic neurobiological and behavioural pharmacology of these drugs 'in hand', contemporary theories and understanding of mental conditions, substance abuse and addiction are considered, focusing on key concepts related to (drug) experience-dependent neuroplasticity, drug-induced neurotoxicity, associative learning, neuronal ensembles and the synaptic basis of learning and plasticity, habit formation and impulse-control.

Module learning outcomes

  • Systematically understand key aspects of pharmacology, behavioural pharamcology and the neuroscience of drugs of absue
  • Systematically understand how drugs alter biological function and behaviour in the context of addiction
  • Extend and apply knowledge of underlying biological phenomena to the explanation of drug abuse and addictive behaviour