Neuropharmacology
| Module title | Neuropharmacology |
|---|---|
| Module code | CSC2019 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Clare Puddifoot (Convenor) Dr Miguel Dasilva Ogando (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 80 |
|---|
Module description
The nervous system is central to the regulation of all aspects of physiology and behaviour. In this module you will learn how altering nervous system signalling using drugs leads to changes in physiology and behaviour with beneficial or detrimental consequences for human health. You will investigate why some substances historically used as therapeutics have been co-opted for recreational use and will start to consider some of the associated complexities. Consideration will be paid to possible side effects and the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of drug dependence and tolerance.
Module aims - intentions of the module
Illustrated using examples of well-known neuroactive substances such as cannabis, nicotine, and amphetamine, you will learn about the complexities of drug-action in the CNS. Through a combination of lectures and workshops you will begin to understand the molecular basis underlying the modulation of CNS signalling by drugs, including the development of dependence and tolerance. You will also learn about how advances in basic research are driving the development of novel therapeutics for CNS disorders.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Identify the different pharmacological modes of action of ligands in the CNS
- 2. Distinguish between the principal types of ligand-effector interactions that affect neural activity, providing examples of each.
- 3. Identify the classes of receptors in the CNS, differentiating the different modes of downstream signalling and recognising the relative timescales of each
- 4. Recognise the complexities of neural signalling in the CNS and give examples of how ligands may act on different neural pathways to regulate physiology and behaviour
- 5. Distinguish between neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, demonstrating understanding of the functional difference between the two
- 6. Compare the relative modes of action of different commonly used recreational drugs
- 7. Explain the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of drug dependence and tolerance, illustrated by specific examples
- 8. Explain the principal challenges associated with designing drugs that act in the CNS to modulate physiology and behaviour
- 9. Evaluate the latest primary research in neuropharmacology, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the underlying research methodology.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Explain the principles of good experimental design and data communication
- 11. Evaluate the specific challenges in data collection within the discipline of neuropharmacology research
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 12. Evaluate primary sources of information.
- 13. Produce clear scientific writing.
Syllabus plan
The module’s precise content will vary from year to year, but the following information gives a description of the typical structure:
The module begins with an introductory workshop in week 1 to outline the broad aims and structure of the module and introduce the assessments. In week 1, there will also be a session focused on skills for reading scientific literature and writing commentaries on research articles in a “News & Views” format.
The next nine weeks are divided into three three-week blocks. Each week you will receive two one-hour lectures. At the beginning of each block you will receive a lecture focused on methods in neuropharmacology. For the remaining lectures in each block different drugs exemplifying key neuropharmacological concepts will be introduced; background material will be presented, molecular targets and associated physiological and behavioural effects discussed. Examples of drugs that may be covered include:
- Ketamine
- Diazepam
- Cocaine
- Nitrous Oxide (Laughing gas)
- MDMA (Ecstasy)
- Cannabis
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
At the end of each three-week block you will have a two-hour workshop in groups. These sessions will be focused on learning to interpret data from the primary scientific research literature and applying the knowledge learned from the lectures to answering formative questions, which will help you prepare for the exam.
In the last two weeks of the module, you will receive lectures on cross-cutting aspects of neuropharmacology such as drug addiction and tolerance. In the final week of the module there is an exam information and preparation workshop.
During the module you will write a “News & Views” style commentary article about a primary research paper selected from a list of available options. This article will form part of the module assessment. To help you prepare you will have a one-hour interactive group tutorial with the specialist academic who selected the paper that will be the focus of your “News & Views” style commentary.
As part of Project Enhance, we have increased the contact time for this module by 17% for the 2020/21 Academic Year.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 115 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 20 | 20 x 1-hour Lectres |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 6 | 3 x 2-hour Workshops |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 2 | 2 x 1-hour Module information and wrap sessions |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 4 | 4 x 1-hour workshop |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 3 | 2 x 45 min and 1 x1.5 hour News and Views assessment preparation tutorial |
| Guided Independent Study | 10 | Literature searches, reading and preparation for workshops. |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation for assessed News & views style summary of a primary research paper |
| Guided Independent Study | 85 | Reading and preparation for lectures and exam |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in tutorial to discuss paper which is subject of the News & views assessment | 3 hours | 1-12 | Verbal |
| Practice MCQ, SAQ and data interpretation questions (in-class and online) | 6 hours | 1-13 | Verbal feedback (in-class) and online model answers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 60 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer question and data interpretation exam | 60 | 2 hours | 1-12 | Written (on request) |
| News and views style summary of a primary research paper | 40 | 1000 words | 1-13 | Written |
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer question and data interpretation exam (60%) | Short answer question and data interpretation exam (2 hours) | 1-12 | Ref/def period |
| News and views style summary of a primary research paper (40%) | News and views style summary of a primary research paper (1000 words) | 1-13 | Ref/def period |
Re-assessment notes
Please refer to the TQA section on full guidance for Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
1. ‘From Neuron to Brain’ 5 th Edition (2012), Nicholls et al, ISBN: 978-0878936090 – For reference/ revision of material from Foundations in Neuroscience. Consult as needed
2. ‘Pharmacology’ 8 th Edition (2015), Rang et al, ISBN: 978-0702053627, Section 4: The Nervous System, Chapters 36-38, 40, 46-48
3. ‘Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the brain and behaviour’, 2nd Edition (2013), Meyer & Quenzer, ISBN:978-0878935109, Chapters 1-10, 11-16
4. ‘Drugs, addiction and the brain’, 1st Edition (2014), Koob, Arends & Le Moal, ISBN: 978-0123869371, Chapters 1-3, 9
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | The Foundations in Neuroscience module is recommended; students may have covered similar material elsewhere. Students who have not studied the preliminary content should be able to successfully complete this module by undertaking some additional study, but should discuss this further with their Academic Tutor and the Module Convener.
|
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 15/08/14 |
| Last revision date | 15/07/2020 |
