Deck 17: Topics in Drug Abuse

Question 1

The frontal cortex projections to the nucleus accumbens release:

A)endorphins.
B)serotonin.
C)glutamate.
D)dopamine.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The ventral tegmental area projects to:

A)the nucleus accumbens.
B)the prefrontal cortex.
C)the basolateral amygdala.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Opiate- and amphetamine-withdrawal are frequently treated with:

A)beta blockers and alpha-2 agonists.
B)beta blockers and alpha-2 blockers.
C)beta agonists and alpha-2 blockers.
D)beta agonists and alpha-2 agonists.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The following drug(s)activate(s)input directly into the prelimbic cortex:

A)marijuana.
B)opioids.
C)marijuana and alcohol.
D)amphetamine.

Question 5

The neural fibers that project from the prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area are primarily:

A)dopaminergic.
B)GABA-ergic.
C)glutamatergic.
D)serotoninergic.

Question 6

One common change in brain activity after long-term drug use is a(n):

A)increase in activity of the locus coeruleus.
B)decrease in activity of the locus coeruleus.
C)increase in activity of the prefrontal cortex.
D)decrease in activity of the prefrontal cortex.

Question 7

The single feature shared by most,if not all,abused substances is:

A)decreased stress.
B)activation of anxiety-reducing (anxiolytic)brain sites.
C)activation of pain-reducing (analgesic)brain sites.
D)activation of reward sites in the brain.

Question 8

The ventral tegmental area is inhibited by:

A)GABA.
B)serotonin.
C)glutamate.
D)dopamine.

Question 9

The neurotransmitter activated by most,if not all,abused substances is:

A)norepinephrine.
B)dopamine.
C)serotonin.
D)GABA.

Question 10

Vaccines:

A)prevent drugs from entering the brain as well as drug craving.
B)prevent drugs from entering the brain but not drug craving.
C)do not prevent drugs from entering the brain but do prevent drug craving.
D)neither prevent drugs from entering the brain nor drug craving.

Question 11

All of the following brain sites are part of the mesolimbic pathway,EXCEPT:

A)the amygdala.
B)the ventral tegmentum.
C)the nucleus accumbens.
D)the raphe nucleus.

Question 12

Activation of the _______ brain site produces pleasure/reward:

A)raphe nucleus
B)amygdala
C)caudate nucleus
D)nucleus accumbens

Question 13

The reinforcing effect of a variety of abused drugs is reduced by:

A)GABAA agonists.
B)GABAA antagonists.
C)GABAB agonists.
D)GABAB antagonists.

Question 14

Dopamine mediates the pleasurable effects of:

A)cocaine.
B)sex.
C)food.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Question 15

Pharmacological treatments for individuals with substance use disorders include all of the following,EXCEPT:

A)treatment to decrease withdrawal effects.
B)substituting a "legal" drug for an illicit one for long-term maintenance.
C)investigating vaccines.
D)substituting a shorter-acting drug for an illicit one.

Question 16

The most widely used addictive drugs are:

A)caffeine,nicotine and cocaine.
B)caffeine,cocaine and alcohol.
C)caffeine,alcohol and cocaine.
D)caffeine,alcohol and nicotine.

Question 17

The ventral tegmental area releases:

A)endorphins.
B)serotonin.
C)glutamate.
D)dopamine.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)Cannabinoids can induce the release of opioids,but opioids cannot induce the release of cannabinoids.
B)Cannabinoids cannot induce the release of opioids,but opioids can induce the release of cannabinoids.
C)Cannabinoids can induce the release of opioids,and opioids can induce the release of cannabinoids.
D)Cannabinoids cannot induce the release of opioids,and opioids cannot induce the release of cannabinoids.

Question 19

Humans that fail to find the effects of methylphenidate rewarding differ from those who do in levels of:

A)beta-norepinephrine receptors.
B)serotonin-1 receptors.
C)nicotinic receptors.
D)dopamine-2 receptors.

Question 20

The "final common pathway" for drug seeking behavior appears to be projections from the:

A)VTA to the prefrontal cortex.
B)prefrontal cortex to the amygdala.
C)nucleus accumbens to the VTA.
D)prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens.

Question 21

Today,researchers view the defining problem of drug addiction as:

A)a simple drug reinforcement issue.
B)a simple drug enforcement issue.
C)a simple drug abstinence issue.
D)None of the answers are correct.

Question 22

Patients with low dopamine-receptor levels would be expected to have exaggerated responses to amphetamine or cocaine.

Question 23

Alcohol is the classic psychoactive drug used throughout history for recreational purposes.

Question 24

More than half of individuals with a drug or alcohol addiction have a diagnosed comorbid disorder.

Question 25

With the possible exception of anxiolytics,if a drug is to produce drug-seeking behavior,it initially must be positively reinforcing.

Question 26

Almost all people with a drug or alcohol addiction have a diagnosed comorbid disorder.

Question 27

If depression is associated with decreased dopamine levels,one would expect depressed patients to have less of a response to amphetamine than nondepressed people.

Question 28

Subjects with the smallest increase in dopamine levels have the greatest pleasure response to cocaine.

Question 29

Most abused drugs affect the mesolimbic pathway via the same mechanism of action.

Question 30

According to the DSM-IV,the terms "substance dependence" and "substance abuse" are interchangeable.

Question 31

Almost half of schizophrenics meet the criteria for substance abuse or dependence.

Question 32

The feedback circuits from the prefrontal cortex to the ventral tegmental area are dopaminergic.

Question 33

The biological basis for drug craving appears to be decreased glutamatergic transmission onto reward circuits.

Question 34

The greater the density of D2 receptors,the greater the pleasurable sensation to methylphenidate.

Question 35

Nicotine is the classic psychoactive drug used throughout history for recreational purposes.

Question 36

Alcohol and nicotine ultimately produce euphoria via nondopamine mechanisms.

Question 37

Chronic exposure to several drugs of abuse enhance the responsiveness of the mesolimbic pathway.

Question 38

Chronic exposure to all drugs increases the protein delta-fosB.

Question 39

Activation of brain reward mechanisms are the single feature shared by most,if not all,abused substances.

Question 40

The greater the increase in DA in response to cocaine-like drugs,the weaker the subjective "high."

Question 41

Opiate antagonists have been approved for treating alcoholism.

Question 42

Antabuse,the agent used to treat alcoholism,increases DA levels.

Question 43

Pharmacological treatment options for addiction traditionally include "relapse prevention pharmacology."

Question 44

Stimulation of GABA-B receptors reduces the reinforcing effect of a variety of abused drugs.