2025 Fall
NEU C62 001 - LEC 001
Formerly Molecular and Cell Biology C62/Letters and Science C30T
Drugs and the Brain
David E Presti
Class #:27298
Units: 3
Instruction Mode:
In-Person Instruction
Offered through
Neuroscience
Current Enrollment
Total Open Seats:
186
Enrolled: 114
Waitlisted: 0
Capacity: 300
Waitlist Max: 60
No Reserved Seats
Hours & Workload
3 hours of instructor presentation of course materials per week, 5 hours of outside work hours per week, and 1 hours of the exchange of opinions or questions on course material per week.
Other classes by David E Presti
Course Catalog Description
The history, chemical nature, botanical origins, and effects on the human brain and behavior of drugs such as stimulants, depressants, psychedelics, analgesics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, steroids, and other psychoactive substances of both natural and synthetic origin. The necessary biological, chemical, and psychological background material for understanding the content of this course will be contained within the course itself.
Class Description
Psychoactive drugs — stimulants, sedatives, psychedelics, analgesics, antidepressant and antipsychotic pharmaceuticals, and others — powerfully impact the human mind and brain. Understanding these substances and their effects is a truly transdisciplinary endeavor: anthropology, botany, cell biology, chemistry, clinical medicine, physiology, psychology, public policy, sociology, governmental law, and more. This class explores that territory, emphasizing the complex nature of drugs as both medicines and poisons, and emanating from plants and fungi having deep historical relationships with humankind.
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions
Students will receive no credit for MCELLBI C62\L & S C30T\NEU C62 after completing CHEM C130, MCELLBI 136, MCELLBI 160, INTEGBI 132, MCELLBI 104, MCELLBI 62, or PSYCH 119.
Repeat Rules
Course is not repeatable for credit.
Requirements class fulfills
Meets Biological Science, L&S Breadth
Reserved Seats
Current Enrollment
No Reserved Seats
Textbooks & Materials
See class syllabus or https://calstudentstore.berkeley.edu/textbooks for the most current information.
Guide to Open, Free, & Affordable Course Materials