Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Psychoactive Drugs

These flashcards explore key terms and concepts related to neuropsychiatric disorders and the use of psychoactive drugs, providing definitions and insights into their applications and relevance in research.

Neuropsychiatric disorders

Mental health disorders that are linked to abnormal function of the brain.

Imaging techniques

Methods used to visualize the structure and function of the brain, such as MRI and CT scans.

Psychoactive drugs

Substances that affect the mind and behavior by altering brain function.

Post mortem studies

Research conducted on brain tissue after death to understand disease mechanisms.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A type of MRI that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

An imaging technique that maps the movement of water in the brain to visualize white matter tracts.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

An imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to measure functional processes in the brain.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A technique to measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

Stem cells that are generated from adult cells and can differentiate into various cell types, including neurons.

Hallucinogens

Substances that induce hallucinations or altered states of consciousness.

Cross tolerance

A phenomenon where tolerance to one drug leads to tolerance to another drug that affects the same receptors.

Serotonin receptors

A group of receptors in the brain that are affected by neurotransmitters like serotonin, influencing mood and perception.

Synesthesia

A condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway.

Neurotransmitter function

The release, receptor binding, and reabsorption processes of chemicals that transmit signals across synapses in the brain.

Animal models

Non-human organisms used in experiments to study biological processes and disease mechanisms.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of how drugs affect the body, including their mechanisms of action and effects.

Lithium

A medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder by stabilizing mood.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

A powerful hallucinogenic drug that alters perception, mood, and cognitive processes.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to visualize internal structures of the body.

Western blotting

A technique used to detect specific proteins in a sample.

Neuroscience

The scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain and its impact on behavior.