Question 1

Which statement below best describes how psychoactive drugs influence the brain's reward centre?

Accepted Answer

Cocaine and amphetamines are known as direct-acting drugs, as they stimulate the release of dopamine directly in the brain's reward centre. Other drugs, such as heroin and alcohol, are known as indirect-acting drugs, as they affect the brain's reward centre through different mechanisms, such as increasing the release of endorphins or enhancing the effects of GABA. Therefore, option D is the correct statement.

Question 2

Which category of psychoactive drugs below is correctly matched with its effects on thought and behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system, leading to increased alertness, energy, and concentration. Examples of stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, and amphetamines.

Answer: D
 Depressants slow down the activity of the central nervous system, leading to feelings of relaxation, drowsiness, and reduced anxiety. Examples of depressants include alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates.

A and C are incorrect because their descriptions are swapped. Hallucinogens are known for producing changes in sensory perception, and sedative-hypnotic drugs can slow the activity of the central nervous system and reduce tension and inhibitions.

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter plays a key role in the reward learning pathway?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which neurotransmitter plays a key role in...

Question 4

Annabelle had a very bad day at work.Her boss was very angry with her because she missed another deadline and threatened to fire her.That night,Annabelle smokes marijuana to help her relax.How is Annabelle likely to feel after smoking the drug?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Annabelle had a very bad day at...

Question 5

Which psychoactive drug below is correctly matched with the primary neurotransmitter it influences?

Accepted Answer

Methamphetamine primarily influences dopamine by increasing its release and blocking its reuptake, leading to increased activation of dopamine receptors in the brain.

Answer: C
 Heroin primarily influences GABA by enhancing its inhibitory effects, leading to decreased activity in the brain and a feeling of sedation and relaxation.

Answer: D
 LSD primarily influences serotonin by binding to and activating certain serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered perception and mood.

Therefore, the best choice is A and C, as they correctly match the psychoactive drug with its primary neurotransmitter.

Question 6

LSD influences the operation of the neurotransmitter ___ in the brain.

Accepted Answer

LSD primarily affects the serotonin neurotransmitter system in the brain, binding to serotonin receptors and altering their functions.

Question 7

Nelson is trying to understand why his son abuses drugs.He knows that genetics plays a role,but he wants to go deeper than that.He comes across a theory called the reward-deficiency syndrome,which states that people abuse drugs because

Accepted Answer

The reward-deficiency syndrome theory suggests that drug abuse is related to abnormal functioning of the reward pathways in the brain, which result in a reduced ability to experience pleasure and reward from everyday activities. This leads individuals to seek out artificial rewards, such as drug use, to stimulate the reward system.

Question 8

Dr.Pham is studying the brain of people who abuse drugs,and he is focused on the reward learning pathway.Upon close examination of the activity in this pathway,what is Dr.Pham likely to find is different between drug addicts and non-addicts?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr.Pham is studying the brain of people...

Question 9

Miguel has consumed excess amounts of a drug that has dramatically strengthened his visual perceptions and he is hallucinating and seeing things move that shouldn't.What drug did Miguel most likely take?

Accepted Answer

LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogenic drug that can cause intense sensory perception, mood changes, and distorted thinking. These symptoms are consistent with what Miguel is experiencing, suggesting that he may have taken LSD. Alcohol, cocaine, and caffeine do not typically cause hallucinations of this nature.

Question 10

Devlin and Cooper became friends in university and often used drugs together.Although Devlin went on to be a successful lawyer,Cooper continued to use drugs regularly.As a result,Cooper has not been able to hold down a steady job and is in danger of losing his family.According to recent research discussed in the text book,what might account for the different outcomes for these two men despite engaging in the same behaviours?

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that individual differences in the function of the brain's reward learning pathway may play a role in determining who becomes addicted and who does not. It is possible that Cooper's reward learning pathway is more easily activated than Devlin's, leading to his continued drug use and negative outcomes, while Devlin may have a more muted response to the same drugs.

Question 11

The key neurotransmitter in the brain's pleasure pathway is ___.

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is known as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter and is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. It is released in response to activities such as eating food, having sex, or engaging in other pleasurable experiences. Dysfunction of the dopamine system is associated with conditions such as addiction, depression, and Parkinson's disease.

Question 12

Beth feels like she has the flu.She also feels irritable and restless.Alonzo has been depressed for a while and can't seem to get out of bed.Chantel is shaking.Her heart is racing,she is sweaty,and her blood pressure has gone up.Danny is irritable.His appetite has increased,and his sleep cycle is off.Which alternative below correctly pairs one of these individuals with the psychoactive drug from which he or she is withdrawing?

Accepted Answer

Chantel is experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, which can include shaking, increased heart rate, sweating, and elevated blood pressure. The other individuals' symptoms match with different types of drugs, such as methamphetamine for Beth, nicotine for Alonzo, and marijuana for Danny.

Question 13

Nick is helping his buddy celebrate his impending matrimony by doing a tour of all the bars in the area and having a drink at each one.Within a two-hour period,he had consumed 7 beers.What state is Nick likely to be in after this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nick is helping his buddy celebrate his...

Question 14

In the 1970s marijuana use rarely led to addiction.Why,then,are so many marijuana smokers now getting caught in pattern of addiction?

Accepted Answer

THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive component of marijuana that produces the "high" sensation. Today's marijuana contains significantly higher levels of THC than it did in the past, which may increase the risk of addiction. Studies have shown that higher levels of THC are associated with increased risks for addiction, and regular use of high-potency marijuana may be associated with an increased risk of developing dependency.

Question 15

Which of the following drugs works by causing a sudden release of serotonin?

Accepted Answer

Ecstasy (MDMA) works by causing a sudden release of serotonin, as well as dopamine and norepinephrine. Cocaine and amphetamines both work by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, leading to an increase in their levels in the brain. Heroin is an opioid drug that works on the brain's opioid receptors to produce its effects.

Question 16

When Terry stopped using oxycontin,though,he had chills,cramps,and diarrhea.Which term below offers the most specific description of Terry's experience?

Accepted Answer

Terry's experience is characteristic of the symptoms of withdrawal, which occur when a person stops using a drug that they have become dependent on. In this case, Terry had been using oxycontin and experienced physical symptoms such as chills, cramps, and diarrhea when he stopped using it. Withdrawal is a specific term used to describe these symptoms that occur during drug cessation.

Question 17

Your text states that,"many people on a marijuana high fail to remember information,especially recently learned material." Drawing on your knowledge of the brain,you might hypothesize that this impairment reflects a potential effect of marijuana on a structure in the brain called the ___.

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is a structure in the brain that is involved in the formation of new memories and the consolidation of long-term memories. Studies have shown that marijuana can affect the functioning of the hippocampus, particularly in terms of impairing short-term memory and the ability to recall recent information.

Question 18

Landon and Aaliyah are at the beach admiring the beautiful purple sky when Aaliyah suddenly notices that her left hand has grown to three times its normal size.Although she tries to tell Landon about her hand,he is focusing on a single grain of sand that he has picked up.Which drug have Landon and Aaliyah probably taken?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Landon and Aaliyah are at the beach...

Question 19

A long time ago,Candace hung out with a group of people and they sometimes enjoyed some illegal drugs.One night,after taking a drug,she saw her arms were melting as if they were on fire,and this terrified her.She never did the drug again,but for a few years afterward she would periodically see her arms melting again.What drug did she likely consume?

Accepted Answer

The hallucinogenic drug that is known to cause visual hallucinations and distortions, including seeing objects melting, is LSD. Therefore, it is likely that Candace consumed LSD on the night she experienced this visual hallucination.

Question 20

Which psychoactive drug below is correctly matched with its class?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the nervous system and can lead to impaired judgment, coordination, and respiratory depression.

Quiz 6: Consciousness