Question 1

After surgery, physicians may prescribe a medication to relievepain. Such a medication would most likely mimic the effects of_____.

Accepted Answer

Endorphins are natural painkillers produced by the body that bind to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain. Prescription pain medications often attempt to mimic the effects of endorphins to provide pain relief.

Question 2

Which of the following is one of the phenomena mentioned inthe text that is associated with increased endorphin levels?

Accepted Answer

The text mentions that increased endorphin levels are associated with the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture.

Question 3

Antianxiety medications such as Valium and Xanax work by_____ in the brain.

Accepted Answer

Antianxiety medications such as Valium and Xanax work by increasing GABA activity in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps to counteract the excitatory effects of other neurotransmitters, resulting in a calming effect.

Question 4

Former heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali suffers from symptoms that are very similar to Parkinson's disease. Hesometimes experiences muscle tremors and has difficulty initiating movements or speech. To help reduce these symptoms, Ali takes a drug called:

Accepted Answer

L-dopa is a drug commonly used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including muscle tremors and difficulty with movement and speech. It is a precursor to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is deficient in Parkinson's disease. L-dopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, which helps to alleviate symptoms. It is likely that Ali's symptoms are being treated with L-dopa or a related medication.

Question 5

The drug called L-dopa:

Accepted Answer

L-dopa is a medication that is used to treat Parkinson's disease by converting to dopamine in the brain, which helps to alleviate the motor symptoms of the disease. It is not used to treat schizophrenia, block pain signals, or found in all sensory neurons.

Question 6

Researchers using PET scans to study the opioid system in long-distance runners are likely to find increased brain levels of_____ following a long run.

Accepted Answer

Endorphins are natural chemicals produced by the brain that are similar in structure and function to opioid drugs like morphine. Endorphins are known to produce feelings of pleasure and pain relief, and they are thought to be responsible for the "runner's high" that long-distance runners often report experiencing. PET scans can be used to measure levels of endorphins in the brain, and researchers studying the opioid system in long-distance runners are likely to find increased brain levels of endorphins following a long run.

Question 7

During a rest stop while hiking, Phil was bitten by a blackwidow spider. Shortly after being bitten, he started having breathing difficulties, then experienced muscle spasms. The symptoms he experienced occurred because the black widowspider's venom:

Accepted Answer

The answer of During a rest stop while hiking, Phil...

Question 8

The rush of euphoria that many people experience aftersustained exercise, especially running or cycling, is called:

Accepted Answer

The rush of euphoria experienced after sustained exercise, particularly running or cycling, is commonly referred to as the "runner's high."

Question 9

Like other people afflicted with _____, actor Michael J. Foxtakes a medication that increases _____ levels to help control symptoms of the disease.

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is caused by a decrease in dopamine levels in the brain, resulting in symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement. Medications such as levodopa and carbidopa can help increase dopamine levels in the brain, and are commonly used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Michael J. Fox has publicly spoken about his struggles with Parkinson's disease and his use of medication to manage its symptoms.

Question 10

A(n) _____ is a drug or other chemical that binds to a receptorsite and triggers a response in the cell.

Accepted Answer

An agonist is a drug or other chemical that binds to a receptor site and triggers a response in the cell. It is the opposite of an antagonist, which binds to the same site but blocks the response. Endorphin and opiate are examples of specific agonists that bind to opioid receptors in the brain.

Question 11

Which of the following drugs is chemically similar to the endorphins?

Accepted Answer

Morphine is an opioid analgesic drug that is chemically similar to endorphins as they both bind to the same receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain perception.

Question 12

Miguel jogs about five miles a day. At roughly the three-milepoint, Miguel usually experiences a rush of positive feelings dueto _____ levels of _____.

Accepted Answer

During exercise, the body releases endorphins which can produce a rush of positive feelings or feelings of euphoria. This typically occurs around the three-mile point for Miguel.

Question 13

Randy exercises more than most people and continues to train even when he has a cold or an injury. His friends joke that Randy seems addicted to exercise. According to Focus on Neuroscience, Randy's compulsive exercising:

Accepted Answer

The involvement of the brain's opioid system and the production of endorphins can be linked to compulsive exercising. Endorphins are natural painkillers produced in response to physical activity, and they can produce feelings of pleasure and euphoria, leading to a desire to exercise more. This can result in an addiction to exercise, much like how some people may become addicted to drugs that activate the opioid system.

Question 14

An agonist is a drug or other chemical that:

Accepted Answer

An agonist is a drug or other chemical that binds to a receptor site and triggers a response in the cell. It activates the receptor site and produces a response similar to that produced by the natural ligand for that receptor.

Question 15

The term endorphin is actually a combination of the words_____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

Endorphin is a combination of the words endogenous (meaning originating from within the body) and morphine (a pain-relieving opioid drug). Endorphins are naturally produced by the body and have a similar effect to morphine in reducing pain and increasing pleasure.

Question 16

Nicotine binds to acetylcholine receptor sites, stimulating skeletal muscles and causing the heart to beat more rapidly.Thus, nicotine is a(n):

Accepted Answer

Nicotine binds to acetylcholine receptor sites and stimulates skeletal muscles and the heart. This action makes nicotine an agonist, which is a chemical that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Question 17

The involvement of the brain's opioid system in "runner's high"suggests one possible explanation for why:

Accepted Answer

The involvement of the brain's opioid system in "runner's high" suggests that exercise can trigger a release of endorphins, which can produce feelings of euphoria and pleasure. This can be addictive for some people and lead to excessive exercise, which can be harmful.

Question 18

How does cocaine achieve its effects?

Accepted Answer

Cocaine interferes with the reuptake of dopamine, causing excess dopamine to accumulate in the synapse and prolonging its effects on the brain's reward and pleasure centers.

Question 19

Which of the following drugs mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine?

Accepted Answer

Nicotine mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by binding to its receptors in the brain and nervous system. Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, L-dopa is used to treat Parkinson's disease, and morphine is an opioid painkiller that acts on the mu-opioid receptors.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways discussed in the text that drugs can interfere with synaptic transmission?

Accepted Answer

The text does not discuss how drugs can bond with the neurotransmitter and change its molecular weight and shape.

Quiz 2: Neuroscience and Behavior