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.

Nowhere are the connections between chemistry, cell biology, physiology, psychology, sociology, public policy, and constitutional law more vividly illustrated than in understanding the effects of drugs on the human brain and human behavior. This L&S Discovery Course will deal with just that: the biology, chemistry, psychology, and sociology of psychoactive drugs. Such substances—which include stimulants, sedatives, psychedelics, analgesics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and others—have powerful effects on the human brain and on human behavior. The origins of drugs as components of plants that have enjoyed deep historical relationships with humankind will be emphasized. The necessary biological, chemical, and psychological background material for understanding the content of this course will be contained within the course itself.

NOTE: The class is full. If you are interested in adding yourself to the waitlist, please check MCELLBI C62 sections. Thank you.

Credit Restrictions

Students will receive no credit for Molecular and Cell Biology C62/Letters and Science C30T after completing Molecular and Cell Biology C100A/Chemistry C130, 104, 110, 130, 136, 160 Integrative Biology 132.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills