Define psychopharmacology and pharmacodynamics and describe the neuron’s cellular structure. Include the definition of synapses as well as their significance to the nervous and psychological system.

Discussion 1.1 Week 1

Discussion 1.1

Psychopharmacology: is a branch of pharmacology that focuses on drugs that affect brain processes related to cognition, behavior, mood, etc. It studies the effects of drugs on many areas of the central and peripheral nervous systems and includes the study of drugs of abuse (Foltz & Fogel, 2023). 

 Pharmacodynamics: it is defined as the study of physiological, biochemical, and molecular actions of medications on the body by developing strong unions between medications and receptors that have specific target sites for those medications and that creates an effect on the body. In other words, it might be defined as the effects of the medication to the body and the response from the body is based on the concentration of the medication in the receptor’s site (Onita, 2024). 

 Neurons are like trees that have three main anatomical components: axon similar to roots that allow communication between 2 neurons by sending messages via electrical impulses; soma o body comparable to a trunk tree where the DNA of the neuron, and the nucleus lies and where the proteins are produced to be send through the dendrites and axons; and lastly, the dendrites that look like branches of a tree and have the role to receive electrical impulses and proteins from the axons and soma respectively to trigger an action potential or not based on the total of dendritic inputs (Zarate, 2019). 

 Synapse: is the anatomic transmission site where the electrical impulses are sent from a neuron to another one or between a neuron and the muscles or body glands. These anatomic sites are very important to the psychological and nervous systems because allow communication between the brain and the body, also allowing that the internal or external information received by several receptors located on different body organs reach the brain areas in charge on managing that information and send the proper response back to the body to prevent more damage or fixed the existent health problems (Gaisler-Salomon, 2019). 

Works cited

Foltz, R., & Fogel, K. (2023). The Psychopharmacology Training Gap in Accredited Clinical Psychology Programs. Training & Education in Professional Psychology (TRAIN EDUC PROF PSYCHOL), 17(4): 408-413. (6p).

Gaisler-Salomon, I. (2019). THE TRIPARTITE SYNAPSE: THE ROLE OF NEURON-ASTROCYTE INTERACTIONS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA PSYCHOPATHOLOGY…Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society, April 10-14, 2019, Orlando, Florida. Schizophrenia Bulletin (SCHIZOPHR BULL), 45: S123-S123. (1p).

Onita, T. (2024). Cerebrospinal Pharmacokinetic Analysis and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Ceftriaxone in Pediatric Patients with Bacterial Meningitis. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics (J CLIN PHARM THER), 1-8. (8p).

Zarate, S. C. (2019). Humanin, a Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide Released by Astrocytes, Prevents Synapse Loss in Hippocampal Neurons. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (FRONT AGING NEUROSCI), N.PAG-N.PAG. (17p).

Are you struggling with your paper? Let us handle it - WE ARE EXPERTS!

Whatever paper you need - we will help you write it

Get started

Starts at $9 /page

How our paper writing service works

It's very simple!

  • Fill out the order form

    Complete the order form by providing as much information as possible, and then click the submit button.

  • Choose writer

    Select your preferred writer for the project, or let us assign the best writer for you.

  • Add funds

    Allocate funds to your wallet. You can release these funds to the writer incrementally, after each section is completed and meets your expected quality.

  • Ready

    Download the finished work. Review the paper and request free edits if needed. Optionally, rate the writer and leave a review.