Mirna is walking home from school and decides to take a shortcut across a small park. As she is walking, a large dog comes running towards her, barking loudly. Mirna is terrified and feels her heart beating hard in her chest and her breathing becomes more erratic. The dog's owner comes over quickly and takes the dog away. Luckily, Mirna is not injured. She then goes home and tells the story to her roommate.
-Which neurotransmitter is most likely to have been released in Mirna's nervous system when she saw the dog

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for the "fight or flight" response in the body, which includes an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and feeling of anxiety or fear. These are the same symptoms that Mirna experienced when she saw the dog, and therefore it is most likely that norepinephrine was released in her nervous system. Adrenaline and epinephrine are simply different names for the same hormone, which can also be released during the "fight or flight" response. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure and reward, and would not be released in this situation.

Mirna Is Walking Home from School and Decides to Take