- Docente: Santi Mario Spampinato
- Credits: 3
- SSD: BIO/14
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (cod. 8519)
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, the student knows the most relevant drugs employed for the therapy of affective diseases, psychosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, he/she knows the basis of drug addiction and the most used substances of abuse and of the main neurodegenerative diseases.
Course contents
Methods of research in neuropharmacology. Tools for imaging the structure and fuction of the brain. Genetic engineering to ask new questions. Brain neurotransmitters. Therapies for affective disorders.
Therapies for anxiety disorders. Therapies for psychoses. Therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Drug abuse, dependence and addiction.
Alcohol. Psychostimulants. Opioids. Nicotine and caffeine.Marijuana and cannabinoids. Hallucinogens.
Readings/Bibliography
Materials distributed by the teacher
Teaching methods
Oral lessons
Assessment methods
The exam consists in a written test of 12 open questions on the following topics: Methods of research in neuropharmacology. Tools for imaging the structure and fuction of the brain. Genetic engineering to ask new questions. Brain neurotransmitters. Therapies for affective disorders. Therapies for anxiety disorders. Therapies for psychoses. Therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Drug abuse, dependence and addiction. Alcohol. Psychostimulants. Opioids. Nicotine and caffeine.Marijuana and cannabinoids. Hallucinogens. The written exam will receive a score in 30. The minimal score to pass the exam is 18/30.
For students who attend the course, they can participate to 2 partial tests. The first (in the first half of November) on the topics of the first six lessons:Tools for imaging the structure and fuction of the brain. Genetic engineering to ask new questions. Brain neurotransmitters. Therapies for affective disorders. Therapies for anxiety disorders. Therapies for psychoses. Therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The second test (in the second half of January) will be focused on the topics of the last six lessons: Drug abuse, dependence and addiction. Alcohol. Psychostimulants. Opioids. Nicotine and caffeine.Marijuana and cannabinoids. Hallucinogens. Each test will be passed if the student has reached a minimum score of 18/30. The score obtained in the partial tests (as mean value) can be recognized as final exam, if specifically requested by the student, as indicated above. The scores of partial tests are valid no later than the end of the academic year attended during the course.
Teaching tools
Projector
Office hours
See the website of Santi Mario Spampinato