Question 1

Dr. Krain's specialty is psychopharmacology. This means that she studies ____.

Accepted Answer

Psychopharmacology is the study of how psychoactive drugs affect the brain and behavior. Therefore, Dr. Krain's specialty is the study of psychoactive drugs. None of the other options listed are as closely related to psychopharmacology as choice A.

Question 2

When Fenesha breaks her ankle, the doctor gives her a drug that eases her pain by binding with endorphin receptors. The drug that she takes is an endorphin ____.

Accepted Answer

An endorphin agonist is a drug that binds to endorphin receptors in the brain and mimics the effects of natural endorphins, which then reduces pain.

Question 3

After reading about meditation in psychology, you decide to try it. Which outcome is most likely from your regular practice of meditation?

Accepted Answer

Regular practice of meditation has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress. However, it is not likely to increase ESP, lead to weight loss, or increase physical strength.

Question 4

Since May-Ling switched to decaffeinated coffee, she has been feeling sluggish in the mornings and has a headache in the afternoons. May-Ling's symptoms seem to reflect ____.

Accepted Answer

May-Ling's symptoms suggest that she may be experiencing withdrawal from caffeine, which is a common side effect when someone stops consuming a substance they are dependent on. This suggests that May-Ling may have been addicted to caffeine in her previous coffee consumption, and switching to decaf has caused withdrawal symptoms.

Question 5

Louise is using a "club drug" that depresses the nervous system, causing feelings of relaxation. Unfortunately, the drug can also cause memory loss, paralysis, breathing problems, loss of consciousness, and even death. Louise ismost likely using ____.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with the effects of GHB, a club drug that depresses the nervous system and can cause severe side effects including memory loss, breathing problems, and loss of consciousness. Amphetamines, LSD, and ketamine do not typically cause these specific symptoms.

Question 6

While at a party, Ted uses a drug that is supposed to induce relaxation and elation and increase his sex drive. About an hour later, Ted feels dizzy and nauseous and has trouble breathing. Later he finds out that this drug worked similarly to the neurotransmitter GABA and is sometimes used as a date rape drug. Ted must have used ____.

Accepted Answer

The drug Ted used is most likely GHB, which is known to induce relaxation, euphoria, and increase sex drive. However, it can also cause the symptoms Ted experienced, including dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing. GHB is often used as a date rape drug because it can cause the victim to be incapacitated and have little memory of the event. MDMA and cocaine do not have the same effects as GHB, and while opiates can cause relaxation and euphoria, they do not typically increase sex drive and are not commonly used as date rape drugs.

Question 7

When Rapunzel was locked in a tower, she used cocaine every day. Now, although she has escaped from the tower and can function without the drug, she still feels that she needs cocaine for her sense of well-being. Rapunzel is experiencing ____.

Accepted Answer

Rapunzel is experiencing psychological dependence, meaning she feels that she needs cocaine for her sense of well-being even though she can function without it. This is different from addiction, which typically includes physical dependence and drug withdrawal symptoms. Drug tolerance refers to needing higher doses of a drug to get the same effect, which is not explicitly mentioned in the scenario.

Question 8

Jules has just invented a new drug that acts as an acetylcholine antagonist. This means that Jules's new drug will ____.

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine antagonist drugs block the receptors that acetylcholine binds to, preventing its effect. Choice A is incorrect because an antagonist has the opposite effect of the compound it is targeting. Choice C is incorrect because blocking the reuptake of acetylcholine would lead to an increase in its concentration, not a decrease in its effect. Choice D is incorrect because stimulating the release of more acetylcholine would have the opposite effect of an antagonist drug.

Question 9

Although Orlando never experiences intense cravings for nor withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, he typically has one cigarette in the evening to relieve the stress of his day. Orlando most likely has developed a(n)____ for nicotine.

Accepted Answer

Orlando's habit of smoking one cigarette in the evening to relieve stress indicates a psychological dependence on nicotine. He may not experience physical dependence or addiction, which are characterized by withdrawal symptoms and a compulsive need to use the drug. Drug tolerance is also not applicable in this scenario as Orlando does not mention needing to increase the amount of nicotine he consumes to achieve the desired effect.

Question 10

Tovah is a chemical who works for the GABA company. Tovah's job is to make each GABA branch run efficiently and productively. Based on your text's description of GABA, what kind of chemical is Tovah most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

Tovah's job is to make each GABA branch run efficiently and productively. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on the brain, meaning it is a CNS depressant. Therefore, Tovah is most likely working with a CNS depressant drug.

Question 11

Psychoactive drugs achieve their effects in all of the following ways except ____.

Accepted Answer

Psychoactive drugs can alter the release of neurotransmitters (C), block neurotransmitter receptors (B), or mimic neurotransmitters (D), but they do not mutate neurotransmitter receptors (A) as that would be a genetic change that would not be achieved through drug use.

Question 12

Which effect would you least expect after ingesting a large amount of alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Ingesting a large amount of alcohol typically leads to a decrease in alertness and response speed, not an increase.

Question 13

Vanessa desperately wants to end her addiction to alcohol. Her doctor suggests that she start taking a drug that prevents neurotransmitters associated with alcohol to bind to receptors and have their usual effect. The doctor is suggesting a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

The drug that prevents neurotransmitters associated with alcohol to bind to receptors is acting as an antagonist, blocking the usual effects of alcohol. Reuptake blockers increase the amount of neurotransmitter in the synapse, while pre-agents and agonists are not relevant to this scenario.

Question 14

When he first started taking drugs, Marcell found that they markedly affected his perceptions. Now, however, he finds that greater dosages are required to achieve the same effects. He is experiencing ____.

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the sentence is an example of drug tolerance, where greater dosages of a drug are required to achieve the same effects as before. Drug intolerance would refer to instances where the body negatively reacts to a drug, psychological dependence refers to a state where an individual feels the need to continue taking a drug even if it is no longer necessary, and withdrawal symptoms refer to the physical and psychological effects that occur when an individual ceases taking a drug after becoming dependent on it.

Question 15

Duncan is addicted to heroin and has to keep increasing his dosage to get the same effects. This effect of addiction is called ____.

Accepted Answer

Drug tolerance refers to the reduced responsiveness to a drug that develops as the result of repeated use, requiring higher dosages to achieve the same effect. This is a common experience for individuals who develop a dependency on drugs like heroin.

Question 16

Dr. Kosmo van Nostrand studies how psychoactive drugs affect the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This is known as the study of ____.

Accepted Answer

Psychoactive drugs and their effects on the brain fall under the study of psychopharmacology.

Question 17

Lance gives Israel a drink, telling him it is fruit punch with a tasteless alcohol in it. In actuality, it has no alcohol, but within an hour Israel becomes more aggressive and wild. Israel is experiencing the effects of ____.

Accepted Answer

Israel's behavior is based on his learned expectations that the drink contained alcohol. This is a psychological effect known as the placebo effect.

Question 18

Shy Sherman is drinking some punch that has been spiked with alcohol. Within an hour, Sherman is talking loudly, acting silly, and telling people what he really thinks about them. Shy Sherman is acting this way because alcohol is a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which can reduce inhibitions and affect judgment, leading to behaviors such as talking loudly, acting out of character, or being overly honest.

Question 19

A person has been taking a drug regularly for an extended period and cannot seem to stop. However, she is taking the same dosage as when she began and experiences the same effects. These circumstances indicate that she ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person has been taking a drug...

Question 20

Penelope has been drinking coffee for the past ten years. She says she needs the caffeine to stay awake in her classes and simply get through the day. If she does not drink coffee on a particular day, she experiences severe headaches, fatigue, and shakiness. Penelope is most likely ____ dependent on caffeine and is experiencing ____.

Accepted Answer

Penelope's reliance on caffeine to avoid withdrawal symptoms indicates physical dependence. Her experience of headaches, fatigue, and shakiness when she does not consume caffeine further supports this conclusion. Therefore, the best option is A, which suggests that she is physically dependent on caffeine and experiencing drug withdrawal symptoms.

Quiz 9: Consciousness