Question 1

One theory of schizophrenia is that people who suffer from it may have more receptor sites or hyperresponsive receptor sites for what neurotransmitter?

Accepted Answer

The theory that people with schizophrenia have hypersensitive dopamine receptors is one of the most widely researched and supported explanations for the disorder. Excess dopamine activity in certain brain regions has been linked to positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, while reduced dopamine activity in other regions is associated with negative symptoms like apathy and lack of motivation.

Question 2

Norepinephrine, which elevates heart rate and other vital signs, is operating when the __________ nervous system is activated.

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine is released by the sympathetic nervous system to prepare the body for "fight or flight" responses, which increase heart rate and other vital functions.

Question 3

If there were a drug that blocked the reuptake of norepinephrine, we would expect that the effect would most likely be

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in activating the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Blocking its reuptake would lead to more norepinephrine in the synapse, which would increase arousal and wakefulness. Therefore, sleeplessness would be the expected effect.

Question 4

______________ is the neurotransmitter involved in muscle contractions.

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contractions. It is released from motor neurons and attaches to receptors on the muscle fibers, causing them to contract. Other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, have different functions in the brain and body.

Question 5

Dr. Kelly Earls, a neuropsychologist, was sitting next to an individual on a train who was exhibiting uncontrollable movement. Dr. Earls assumed that this individual had an imbalance in which of the following neurotransmitters?

Accepted Answer

Uncontrollable movement is a symptom of movement disorders such as Parkinson's and Tourette's, which are associated with a dysfunction of the dopamine system.

Question 6

Phenothiazines, a group of drugs used to treat schizophrenia, block the action of the neurotransmitter

Accepted Answer

Phenothiazines are dopamine antagonists, meaning they block the action of dopamine, which is believed to play a role in the development of schizophrenia symptoms.

Question 7

Jack just finished a 26.2-mile marathon. In spite of the physical strain, he feels euphoric and elated due to the release of

Accepted Answer

Endorphins are known as the body's natural painkillers and are responsible for feelings of pleasure, euphoria, and overall well-being. Endorphins are released during intense exercise, such as a marathon, and can create a sense of euphoria or runner's high.

Question 8

While visiting the jungles of South America in the early part of the 20th century, Eugene was shot with a poison dart. He immediately became paralyzed. The toxin in the dart most likely blocked the action of

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in muscle contraction. Blocking its action can lead to paralysis, as seen in the case of Eugene being shot with a poison dart. Serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are other neurotransmitters with different functions such as mood regulation and arousal, but they are not directly involved in muscle contraction.

Question 9

Minutes after eating a few bites of food in a local restaurant, Mary was unable to breathe and began to experience muscular paralysis. She had ingested food contaminated with botulism, which blocked the action of

Accepted Answer

Botulism toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is essential for transmitting signals from nerves to muscles. This leads to muscular paralysis, as seen in Mary's case. Serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are not directly involved in the neural transmission at the neuromuscular junction and would not be affected by botulism toxin.

Question 10

Underavailability of dopamine is to ____ as overutilization of dopamine is to _______.

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is caused by an underavailability of dopamine, while schizophrenia is caused by an overutilization of dopamine. Option A is incorrect because underavailability of dopamine is associated with Parkinson's disease, not schizophrenia. Option B is incorrect because depression is associated with underavailability of dopamine, not Parkinson's disease. Option D is incorrect because depression is associated with underavailability of dopamine, while schizophrenia is associated with overutilization of dopamine.

Question 11

According to research cited in your text, a reduction of acetylcholine in the hippocampus of rats resulted in a decrease in

Accepted Answer

The text states that "research has shown that a reduction of acetylcholine in the hippocampus results in a decrease in memory in rats." Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Question 12

Jeff is very aggressive and exhibits alcoholism and depression. More than likely, he has a

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that low levels of serotonin are associated with aggression and impulsivity, as well as depression and anxiety, which are also symptoms exhibited by Jeff. Alcohol abuse is also known to deplete serotonin levels in the brain, further suggesting that Jeff's aggressive and depressed behavior may be linked to a serotonin deficiency.

Question 13

Serotonin is primarily

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is primarily inhibitory, meaning it tends to reduce the firing of neurons in the brain and nervous system. It is involved in regulating mood, anxiety, and sleep, among other functions.

Question 14

Botulism spores, which have the same effect as the toxin curare, result in _________ because they prevent __________ from being released into the synapse.

Accepted Answer

Botulism spores prevent the release of acetylcholine, leading to paralysis. This is why the spores are used as a medical treatment for conditions such as facial spasms and overactive muscles; it causes temporary paralysis of the affected muscles.

Question 15

Deficiencies of dopamine are linked to

Accepted Answer

Dopamine deficiencies are linked to Parkinson's disease, which is a degenerative disorder that affects movement and can cause tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. While dopamine is also involved in other functions like mood regulation (which could potentially relate to memory problems and OCD), the strongest link and most well-known association is with Parkinson's disease. Additionally, dopamine is not typically associated with increased libido, but rather with reward and pleasure pathways in the brain.

Question 16

Neurotransmitters find their way to __________ and subsequently trigger firing of that neuron.

Accepted Answer

Neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron, which can trigger the neuron to fire if enough excitatory neurotransmitters are received. Terminal buttons release neurotransmitters, synaptic vesicles store them, and "transmitter sites" is not a standard term used in neuroscience.

Question 17

Since dopamine is primarily an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in voluntary movement, individuals who are deficient in dopamine would exhibit

Accepted Answer

Dopamine deficiency is associated with uncontrollable movement, also known as dyskinesia. This is the hallmark symptom of Parkinson's disease, which is caused by a loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Without enough dopamine to regulate movement, individuals with Parkinson's may experience tremors, rigidity, and difficulty initiating and coordinating voluntary movements.

Question 18

Some neurotransmitters ____, while other neurotransmitters ____ .

Accepted Answer

Neurotransmitters can have different effects on the receiving neuron. Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire an action potential, while inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood of firing an action potential.

Question 19

Deficiencies in __________ have been linked to anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and insomnia.

Accepted Answer

Serotonin has been linked to numerous mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. It also plays a role in regulating sleep and mood. Deficiencies in serotonin can contribute to these conditions.

Question 20

At the synapse, acetylcholine will be

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine can act as both an excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter depending on the type of receptor it binds to on the postsynaptic cell. This means that it can either increase or decrease the likelihood of an action potential being generated in the receiving neuron. Therefore, the best choice is either C, which indicates that acetylcholine can be either excitatory or inhibitory.

Quiz 2: Biology and Psychology