Chapter 12 Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology

Question	Answer
Neuropharmacology	The study of drugs that alter processes controlled by the nervous system
Two categories of neuropharmacologic agents	Peripheral nervous system (PNS) drugs & Central nervous system (CNS) drugs
What are the two basic steps in the process by which the neuron influences the behavior of the postsynaptic cell?	Step 1) Axonal conduction Step 2) Synaptic transmission Image: Neurons_regulating_other_cells (image/png)
Axonal conduction is	The process of conducting an action potential down the axon of the neuron
Synaptic transmission is	The process by which information is carried across the gap between the neuron and the postsynaptic cell
Which 2 neuronal activities can a drug alter in order to influence a process under neuronal control?	The axonal conduction or synaptic transmission
Most neuropharmacologic agents act by altering ___________; Explain why	Synaptic transmission; Because drugs that alter synaptic transmission can produce more selective effects than those drugs produced by axonal conduction

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	Created by Carrie Odeneal over 9 years ago