Neuropharmacology Techniques and Experiments

The ultimate goal in neuropharmacology is to understand the effects of drugs on the nervous system and translate this knowledge into the development of new and effective therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Microiontophoresis is a technique used to deliver small amounts of drugs directly to specific neurons in the brain. This allows researchers to study the precise effects of drugs on neuronal activity.

Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of cells, particularly neurons. This technique measures the electrical activity of neurons in response to drugs.

In vivo techniques are experiments conducted on living organisms. This allows researchers to study the effects of drugs in their natural context.

In vitro techniques are experiments conducted in a controlled environment outside of a living organism. This allows researchers to study the effects of drugs on isolated cells or tissues.

Expression systems are used to produce large amounts of a specific protein for study. These systems can be used to test the effects of drugs on protein function.

Ligands are molecules that bind to specific receptors. By testing ligands in different systems, researchers can investigate how these molecules interact with receptors and influence cellular function.

The study of how drugs affect the nervous system, including sensory perception, motor function, mood, and cognition.

A branch of neuroscience focused on the structure and organization of the nervous system.

A branch of neuroscience focused on the functions of the nervous system.

A broad field that studies the mind and its processes, including perception, cognition, and emotion.

A branch of medicine that focuses on treating diseases with drugs.

The study of chemical compounds used in medicinal applications.

The study of how drugs interact with their targets in the body, such as receptors.

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated in the body.

The study of drug effects on biological systems in a controlled environment.

A method of studying the effects of drugs on the nervous system. This involves testing the activity of ligands (molecules that bind to receptors) within various biological systems.

A biological system used to study the effects of drugs on the brain.

The way a drug is introduced into the test system.

The time taken for a drug to reach its target and exert its effect.

Establishing a relationship between the concentration of a drug and its effect.

A method of studying the electrical activity of neurons using electrodes.

Electrodes that are placed outside of neurons to record their electrical activity.

Electrodes that are inserted inside neurons to record their electrical activity.

A technique used to study the effects of drugs on specific brain regions by recording the electrical activity of neurons.

A technique for measuring the electrical activity of individual ion channels in a cell membrane.

A high-resistance seal formed between the tip of an electrode and the cell membrane.

A variant of the patch-clamp technique where the electrode remains attached to the cell membrane but doesn't rupture it.

A variant of the patch-clamp technique where the membrane patch is pulled away from the cell, exposing the intracellular side of the channel.

A variant of the patch-clamp technique where the membrane patch is ruptured, allowing the electrode to measure the electrical activity of the whole cell.

A fundamental law in physics that describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. It states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it and inversely proportional to its resistance.

The recording of electrical signals from inside a cell, using a microelectrode inserted through the cell membrane.

A brief change in membrane potential that makes a neuron more likely to fire an action potential.

A brief change in membrane potential that makes a neuron less likely to fire an action potential.

The recording of electrical signals from outside a cell, using an electrode placed near the cell membrane.

A type of extracellular recording that measures the summed electrical activity of a population of neurons near the electrode.

A rapid change in the electrical potential across the membrane of a neuron, typically caused by the influx of sodium ions.

A specialized technique that combines electrophysiological recording with imaging methods, allowing researchers to observe the location and activity of neurons simultaneously.

A method used to stimulate specific neurons using light, allowing researchers to study the effects of light on neural activity.