Bachelor of Science (BSc)

BSc Biomedical Sciences

Discover how biology-based science can be applied for medical use through our wide-ranging course.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: B940 / Institution code: M20
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Course unit details:
Drugs & the Brain

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL21312
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Drugs and the Brain outlines the important types of drugs, including anaesthetics, antipsychotics and antidepressants, which are used to influence activity in the brain. You will learn how these drugs act on neurotransmitters and the side effects that their actions can cause.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Drugs: From Molecules to Man BIOL10822 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Excitable Cells: the Foundations of Neuroscience BIOL10832 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
BIOL21312 Pre-requisites are BIOL10822 OR BIOL10832(students only need to have taken ONE of the compulsory pre-requisites)

Aims

To describe the aetiology and symptomology of a range of brain disorders the range of mechanisms by which drugs can interfere with neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS) how neurotransmitter activities can be modified by drugs leading to the rational treatment of CNS disorders how an understanding of neurotransmitters and mechanisms of drug action can lead to more selective treatment of CNS disorders.

Learning outcomes

After completing the unit and recommended reading, students should have an understanding of: basic mechanisms of brain disorders important classes of drugs used in medicine and/or biological research to influence central neuronal activity, particularly in humans the mechanisms of action of these drugs in terms of their effects on major neurotransmitters mechanism-related drug side-effects

Syllabus

• Introduction to neuropharmacology 

• The central synapse: neurotransmitter systems as targets for drug therapy 

• Accessing the central synapse: the blood-brain barrier to drugs 

• Pharmacology of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease 

• Pharmacology of general anaesthetics and local anaesthetics 

• Pharmacology of antipyretic-analgesic drugs 

• Pharmacology of opioid analgesic drugs 

• Pharmacology of antiepileptic drugs 

• Pharmacology of anxiolytic drugs 

• Pharmacology of CNS stimulants and psychotomimetics 

• Pharmacology of antipsychotic drugs 

• Pharmacology of antidepressant drugs

Teaching and learning methods

Core taught material: 33 hours

Students will be expected to complete 1 eLearning module per week, containing approximately 1 hour of pre-recorded video content or equivalent.

Each week there will also be 1 hour of live-lecture content that builds on the eLearning module and a 1 hour face-to-face active learning session.  
 

Employability skills

Group/team working
Students are encouraged to support each other using the unit Padlet board. There is also a group-based coursework option.
Oral communication
Students may ask questions during weekly question and answer sessions.
Written communication
Through the use of Padlet discussion board (see below). Also via exam essays.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 20%
Written exam 80%

On campus written exam (1.5 hours) comprising two sections. Section A: a choice of 3 out of a choice of 4 short note questions; Section B: a choice of 5 out of 6 short note questions 

Feedback methods

Formative assessments in eLearning Modules Post-exam guidance.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 1.5
eAssessment 16
Lectures 15
Independent study hours
Independent study 67.5

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Richard Prince Unit coordinator

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