Template:Syllabus

Course Syllabus-PSYC 4132 Behavioral Neuropharmacology Spring 2010 Room: Tuesday & Thursday 2:00-3:15 Professor: Dr. Don C. Cooper Office: Muenzinger E2 Office hours: Wed: 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. or by appointment Office Phone: (303) 335-0248 Email: Don.Cooper@live.com or DCooper@Colorado.edu

Required Textbook: Meyer, J.S. and Quenzer, L.F., (2005) Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior. Sinauer & Associates.

Course description and organization: This course is designed to give students a fundamental understanding of the biochemical basis of behavior as well as the effects of drugs on the central nervous system and behavior.

The course is divided into the following four sections:

1. Principles of pharmacology

2. Brain neurotransmitter systems

3. Addiction and the mechanisms of psychoactive drug action

4. The biochemical bases of psychiatric disorders

Four exams will cover material covered in the lectures and required readings from the textbook, as well as additional readings distributed in class or posted on the course web page.

Grading: Each exam is worth 100 points. 100 points x 4 exams = 400 possible points from exams. The format of the exams is multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions. Make-up exams will not be administered except under the University, Department and course policies (see below). If you miss an exam without prior notice and approval...Attendance is expected and will be “informally” incorporated into your grade. Attendance sheets will be randomly distributed during class and will be considered in borderline grades at the discretion of the professor.

Letter Grade Points Percentages A 372 to 400+ 93.00 to 100+ A- 360 to 371 90.00 to 92.75 B+ 346 to 359 86.50 to 89.75 B 332 to 345 83.00 to 86.25 B- 320 to 331 80.00 to 82.75 C+ 306 to 319 76.50 to 79.75 C 292 to 305 73.00 to 76.25 C- 279 to 291 69.75 to 72.75 D+ 266 to 278 66.50 to 69.50 D 252 to 265 63.00 to 66.25 D- 240 to 251 60.00 to 62.75 F 0 to 239 0.00 to 59.75

Class Date Topic Reading 1 12-Jan Introduction 2 14-Jan Pharmacokinetics 1 3 19-Jan Pharmacodynamics 1 4 21-Jan Neurophysiology 2 5 26-Jan Neuroanatomy 2 6 28-Jan Neurotransmission I 3 7 02-Feb Neurotransmission II 3 8 04-Feb Methods 4 9 09-Feb Review/Catch-up 1-4 10 11-Feb EXAM 1 1-4 11 16-Feb Catecholamines 5 12 18-Feb Acetylcholine 6 13 23-Feb Serotonin 6 14 25-Feb Glutamate and GABA 7 15 02-Mar 16 04-Mar Review/Catch-up 5-7 17 09-Mar EXAM 2 5-7 18 11-Mar Addiction 8 19 23-Mar Opiates 10 20 25-Mar Alcohol 9 21 1-Apr Psychostimulants 11 22 6-Apr Nicotine and Caffeine 12 23 8-Apr Cannabinoids 13 24 12-Nov EXAM 3 8-13 25 17-Nov Depression 16 26 19-Nov Anxiety 17 27 24-Nov FALL BREAK-No class Enjoy! 28 26-Nov FALL BREAK-No class Enjoy! 29 1-Dec Schizophrenia 18 30 3-Dec Learning and Memory Hand-out 31 8-Dec NO CLASS! Enjoy! 32 10-Dec Review/Catch Up 16-18, Hand-outs 12-Dec Saturday: FINAL EXAM: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 16-18, Hand-outs