Transmission of the Nerve Impulse
Hamilton & Timmons have produced an excellent monograph (book) on neuropharmacology. This subject used to be called "psychopharmacology", but the Rutgers group prefers to call it "neuropharmacology". The term "neuropharmacology" may be more accurate because these drugs have both neurological symptoms, which are adverse, and psychological symptoms, which can also be adverse, unfortunately. Perhaps an even better term would be "neuropsychopharmacology", which suggests that the drugs have both psychological and neurological effects. This author (Olson) has invented the term "neuropsychopharmacology". At any rate, many of the drugs act on the synapse.
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This clipart of a neuron is from the Washington State site Neuroscience for Kids, an outstanding website that I highly recommend.
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Shown here is a model of the synapse. It shows how drugs such as amphetamine can affeect the synapse. The clipart is from an e-book published on the internet by Hamilton & Timmons.
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This 1902 drawing by Wilhelm Wundt shows the motor areas of the cerebral cortex. Wundt's book on physiological psychology was translated into English in 1904.
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Shown here is an engraving of brain neurons, presented courtesy of the National Library of Medicine, which has been my main source of data for this website. These neurons touch each other at the synapses.
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Shown here is Dr. Solomon Snyder, a brilliant authority on neurotransmitters. This photo is courtesy of NLM.
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This clipart from Hamilton & Timmons' monograph shows the major neurotransmitters thought to be involved withpsychic functions. There is a theory that acetylcholine is abnormal in Alzheimer's disease. There are theories about serotonin in depression and schizophrenia. One theory is that a toxic metabolite of serotonin causes schizophrenia. However, a proposed neurotoxin for schizophrenia, bufotenin, has horrendous peripheral side effects not seen in schizophrenia. Therefore the butotenin theory is weak at best. Bufotenin is similar in structure to serotonin.
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Cocaine acts on the synapse in a different way, according to Hamilton & Timmons. It blocks the reuptake of the catecholamine (norepinephrine or dopamine). This causes more synaptic transmission.
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These are brain neurons, shown courtesy the National Library of Medicine. These neurons communicate with each other at the synapses.
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Here is another drawing made with the light microscope. The electron microscope gives much greater magnification. However, the light microscope can see colors, although none are shown in this drawing, courtesy of the NLM.
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Shown here are Donald Frederickson and Paul MacLean. Frederickson was head of NIH and MacLean was a noted authority on the brain. This photo is courtesy of NLM.
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