- Drug molecules spread throughout the body 
- When drug molecules contact a receptor with the same shape, the two molecules bind together and create a chain of events 
- Lock (receptor) and key (drug molecules) action 
- Binding is usually temporary 
- When the drug leaves the receptor, the receptor returns to its unbound shape and normal functioning 

Drug and Receptor Interaction 

- Binding affinity (where it binds to) and intrinsic activity (what it does) determines the action of a drug
- Drugs may bind strongly or weakly to receptors or not bind to any receptors at all 
- Drug molecules that affects more than one kind of receptor have more than one action in the body 
- Drugs exhibit dose response relationships 

Drug Action 

- Medicine used in the treatment of a disease 
- Examples include psychoactive drugs which alter functions of the brain and affect conscious experiences

Rutgers University

- Drugs
- Drug effects
- Injury or psychiatric illness
- Drug abuse and addiction

Aspects of neuropharmacology

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

Drug Effects 

The main differences between drug abuse and addiction are the level of use and the resulting change in the brain. That said, there is much overlap between the two.

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