This week’s required and recommended materials will cover topics on neurotransmitters, receptors, neurotransmitter systems, and their role in cognition and behavior (both normal and abnormal).  After reading Chapters 3 and 4 in your course text and viewing Brain and Nervous System: Your Information Superhighway, The Nervous System:  Nerves at Work,  and The Influence of Neurotransmitters complete one of the following options for your discussion:

Option A:  Evaluate one of the neurotransmitters covered in this week’s readings. Explain the role it plays in modulating responses to a drug of abuse. For example, you could choose the acetylcholine receptor system and discuss the role this neurotransmitter plays in addiction to nicotine. In addition to your evaluation of the specific neurotransmitter and its associated receptor system, provide correlation to the involved neuroanatomical structures, the contribution of genetics and environment to the development of dependence, tolerance, and addiction to this substance, as well as clinical treatment interventions.

You must use a minimum of one peer-reviewed source that was published within the last five years, documented in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.  Your post should be a minimum of 250 words. You may cite and reference your textbook, required reading and/or multimedia, but these will not fulfill the source requirement.

Option B:  Evaluate one of the neurotransmitters covered in this week’s readings. Explain the role it plays in a neurological or psychological disorder of your choice. For example, you could choose the dopaminergic system and discuss the role this neurotransmitter has in the development of schizophrenia.  In addition to your evaluation of the specific neurotransmitter and its associated receptor system, provide a correlation to the involved neuroanatomical structures, as well as the contribution of genetics and environment to the development and clinical management of this disorder.