Neuropharmacology
Neuropharmacology is the study of drugs that have an effect on the nervous system. Its focus is on the development of compounds that may benefit people suffering from neurological or psychiatric illnesses. Prior to the development of neuropharmacology, there were only four drugs available for nerve disorders: morphine, caffeine, nitrous oxide, and aspirin. Over the next 50 years, a new class of drugs emerged, including antihistamines, barbiturates, and opioid analogues.
With modern insights into the molecular basis of many drugs' actions and the availability of current research methods, work to understand how the brain works at the molecular and cellular levels is ongoing. This includes understanding the role of genetic variation in drug effects and drug delivery to the brain