Neuropharmacology
Neuropharmacology
is the study of how drugs affect and cellular function in the nervous system,
and the neural mechanisms which influence behavior of an organism. There are
two main branches of neuropharmacology
1. Behavioral and molecular: Behavioral
neuropharmacology focuses on the effects of drugs on human behavior
2. Neuropsychopharmacology
is the study of how drug addiction and dependence affect the human brain.
Molecular neuropharmacology involves the study of neurons and neurochemical interactions, since both fields are concerned with the interactions of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, neuromodulators , neurohormones, enzymes, second messengers, co-transporters, ion channels, and receptor proteins in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Studying these interactions, researchers are developing drugs to treat many different neurological disorders, including pain, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease, psychological disorders, addiction, and many others.
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