Deck 4: Psychopharmacology

Question 1

The blood-brain barrier is a barrier against

A) cocaine.
B) heroin.
C) L-DOPA.
D) glucose.
E) alcohol.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The __________ of codeine, morphine, and other opiates include decreased sensitivity to pain, slowing of the digestive system, sedation, muscular relaxation, constriction of the pupils, and at high doses, euphoria.

A) sites of action
B) drug effects
C) exogenous substances
D) endogenous substances
E) drugs

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The primary organ that metabolizes drugs is the

A) liver.
B) lungs.
C) mucosa.
D) kidneys.
E) skin.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

James snorts a small amount of cocaine into his nose using a rolled up dollar bill. The formal term for this route of cocaine administration would be

A) inhalation.
B) insufflation.
C) intravenous.
D) intrarectal.
E) sublingual.

Question 5

The primary route of excretion of drugs from the body is via the

A) liver.
B) lung.
C) mucosa.
D) kidneys.
E) skin.

Question 6

The ________ route of drug administration is commonly used for small laboratory animals such as the rat.

A) intraperitoneal
B) oral
C) intravascular
D) topical
E) intranasal

Question 7

The ________ route of drug administration has the advantage of bypassing the blood-brain barrier.

A) intraperitoneal
B) oral
C) intravascular
D) topical
E) intracerebroventricular

Question 8

________ refers to the process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and then excreted from the body.

A) Pharmacotherapy
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Drug metabolism
D) Pharmacodynamics
E) Neurobotany

Question 9

If the therapeutic index of Drug X is low, physicians

A) should take more care in prescribing it due to an increased chance of risks.
B) can take less care in prescribing it due to a decreased chance of risks.
C) should not prescribe it because it is too dangerous.
D) should not prescribe it because it is not effective.
E) should prescribe it because it is the most effective drug of its type.

Question 10

________ refers to the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behavior.

A) Pseudopharmacology
B) Neuropharmacology
C) Psychoimmunology
D) Neurochemistry
E) Psychopharmacology

Question 11

Neil has accidentally ingested a toxic chemical, which has made him unconscious and will soon kill him. Which route of administration would emergency physicians most likely use to administer an antidote for the toxin?

A) intravenous
B) oral
C) topical
D) rectal
E) nasal

Question 12

Differences in effectiveness between two drugs that share the same site of action would be expected to result from their different

A) adverse effects.
B) sensitization profiles.
C) dynamic capacities.
D) affinities for the site of action.
E) binding capacities within blood.

Question 13

Jackson is doing research in which she examines whether a drug effect is different depending on whether the drug is given orally or rectally. We might say that she is doing a study involving

A) neurotherapy.
B) neurochemistry.
C) behavioral neuroscience.
D) pharmacokinetics.
E) neuropharmacology.

Question 14

Where a drug acts in the cell would be a

A) site of action.
B) drug effect.
C) exogenous substance.
D) endogenous substance.
E) drug.

Question 15

Dose response curves

A) indicate whether a physician should prescribe the drug.
B) indicate the therapeutic index of the drug.
C) demonstrate the effect of a particular dose until the maximum effect is reached.
D) show the level of withdrawal an individual may experience when stopping a drug.
E) show the level of tolerance an individual may experience when taking a drug.

Question 16

Which of the following is true of drug effects?

A) Drugs vary widely in their effectiveness.
B) Drugs continue to show increases of effect even with super-large doses.
C) Heavier animals usually require lower drug doses than do lighter animals.
D) A drug has only one effect.
E) For a given animal weight, twice as much drug always has twice the effect.

Question 17

The ________ route of drug administration is most commonly used for humans.

A) intraperitoneal
B) oral
C) intravascular
D) topical
E) intranasal

Question 18

An important drawback to the ________ route is the high likelihood of accidental overdose.

A) oral
B) topical
C) intravenous
D) intramuscular
E) intraperitoneal

Question 19

An increase in ________ for a drug would cause that drug to more rapidly reach the brain.

A) metabolism of the drug via the liver
B) lipid solubility
C) water solubility
D) depot binding of the drug in blood, bone and fat
E) kidney excretion

Question 20

Kathy receives a Depo Provera shot in her buttocks every 3 months to prevent pregnancy. This injection would be

A) oral.
B) topical.
C) intravenous.
D) intramuscular.
E) intraperitoneal.

Question 21

A drug that binds at a postsynaptic site different from that of the neurotransmitter and facilitates the opening of ion channels would be termed a(n)

A) indirect antagonist.
B) ligand.
C) direct synergist.
D) indirect agonist.
E) inducer.

Question 22

One mechanism for the tolerance produced by repeated drug administration is a(n)

A) decreased metabolism of the drug.
B) increased plasma level of the drug.
C) increased number of receptors in the brain.
D) reduced number of receptors for the drug.
E) increased number of ion channel openings in response to receptor activation.

Question 23

________ refers to an increased behavioral effect of a drug noted with repeated administration.

A) Dynamic capacity
B) Sensitization
C) Inactivation
D) Tolerance
E) Binding capacity

Question 24

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are

A) protagonists.
B) ligands.
C) synergists.
D) antagonists.
E) agonists.

Question 25

Which of the following drugs has the largest therapeutic index?

A) heroin
B) Valium
C) alcohol
D) barbiturates
E) a mixture of barbiturates and alcohol

Question 26

After two years, Sam needs to smoke more cigarettes to achieve the same feelings as he had when he first started smoking. This need to increase dosage is due to

A) dynamic capacity.
B) sensitization.
C) inactivation.
D) tolerance.
E) binding capacity.

Question 27

A researcher asks individuals to participate in an experiment that causes arm muscle strain. The participants are instructed to use a provided muscle rub after the activity. One group gets a rub with active ingredients to reduce pain, whereas the other group gets a ____________ without active ingredients.

A) placebo
B) pseudotransmitter
C) drug
D) agonist
E) ligand

Question 28

Activation of dendritic autoreceptors produce ________; a drug that is an agonist at these autoreceptors would be classified as an ________ for the synapse.

A) depolarizations; antagonist
B) hyperpolarizations; agonist
C) hyperpolarizations; indirect agonist
D) hyperpolarizations; antagonist
E) action potentials; agonist

Question 29

Activation of a presynaptic autoreceptor on dendrites can produce a hyperpolarization that

A) releases more transmitter.
B) increases synthesis of transmitter.
C) increases reuptake of the transmitter.
D) reduces transmitter release by reducing the axon firing rate.
E) increases the number of receptors at the synapse.

Question 30

A drug that binds with a postsynaptic receptor, but does not open ion channels, would be termed a(n)

A) direct agonist.
B) ligand.
C) direct synergist.
D) direct antagonist.
E) indirect antagonist

Question 31

A drug that blocks a presynaptic autoreceptor most likely

A) will induce the presynaptic cell to refire.
B) alters the uptake of the neurotransmitter into the axon terminal.
C) blocks the opening of ion channels in the postsynaptic membrane.
D) increases the release of the neurotransmitter from the axon terminal.
E) would be expected to act as an antagonist for this synapse.

Question 32

An example of a withdrawal symptom for a heroin addict would be

A) eating.
B) constipation.
C) euphoria.
D) dysphoria.
E) craving for alcohol.

Question 33

Which of the following is true of the therapeutic index?

A) The index is a ratio between LD75 and ED75 values.
B) More caution is required for a drug with a low therapeutic index.
C) More caution is required for a drug with a high therapeutic index.
D) Less caution is required for a drug with a low therapeutic index.
E) The index is a ratio between the LD25 and LD75 values.

Question 34

An antagonistic effect on neurotransmitter synthesis includes

A) blocking a precursor.
B) promoting a precursor.
C) blocking NT release.
D) promoting NT release.
E) blocking the autoreceptor.

Question 35

A drug that activates a presynaptic autoreceptor will usually

A) reduce the release of the neurotransmitter from the axon terminal.
B) alter the uptake of the neurotransmitter into the axon terminal.
C) block the opening of ion channels in the postsynaptic membrane.
D) increase the release of the neurotransmitter from the axon terminal.
E) be expected to act as an agonist for this synapse.

Question 36

We would classify a drug as a(n) ________ if that drug acted to block the capacity of vesicles to be filled with neurotransmitter molecules.

A) agonist
B) facilitator
C) antagonist
D) autoreceptor agonist
E) indirect agonist

Question 37

With repeated drug administration, the body begins to compensate for drug use by causing symptoms opposite of what the drug causes. This phenomenon is called

A) withdrawal.
B) sensitization.
C) inactivation.
D) tolerance.
E) binding capacity.

Question 38

Which of the following is true of drug sensitization?

A) Drug sensitization involves a progressive decrease in behavioral actions of a drug over time.
B) Drug sensitization is more common than is drug tolerance.
C) Drug sensitization is less common than is drug tolerance.
D) Drug sensitization involves a decrease in the number of drug receptors.
E) Most drugs exhibit some form of sensitization.

Question 39

PCP binds to an alternate binding site for the NMDA glutamate receptor, causing less neurotransmitter action. This binding action makes PCP a(n)

A) indirect antagonist.
B) ligand.
C) direct synergist.
D) direct antagonist.
E) neurohormone.

Question 40

Administering a molecule that is a precursor for the synthesis of a synaptic neurotransmitter would be expected to

A) reduce the availability of that neurotransmitter.
B) increase the rate of synthesis and release of that neurotransmitter.
C) alter the number of postsynaptic receptors.
D) act as an antagonist at autoreceptors.
E) dampen the activity of the synapse.

Question 41

________ is the primary neurotransmitter secreted by motor axons of the CNS.

A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Acetylcholine
D) Serotonin
E) GABA

Question 42

Inactivation of a transporter in the presynaptic membrane would be expected to

A) increase the levels of the transmitter in the synapse.
B) increase synthesis of the transmitter.
C) increase reuptake of the transmitter.
D) provide negative feedback on synthesis or release of transmitter.
E) increase the transmitter synthesis.

Question 43

The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain is a(n) ____________ called _______________.

A) amino acid; acetylcholine
B) amino acid; glutamate
C) monamine; serotonin
D) monoamine; dopamine
E) amino acid; dopamine

Question 44

Alcohol withdrawal can lead to seizures because of the effect of alcohol on

A) blocking AMPA receptors.
B) stimulating 5-HT receptors.
C) displacing magnesium ions from the GABA receptors.
D) blocking NMDA receptors.
E) blocking 5-HT receptors.

Question 45

Which transmitter below induces muscle movement and is the primary transmitter secreted by efferent axons of the central nervous system?

A) acetylcholine
B) GABA
C) serotonin
D) glycine
E) glutamate

Question 46

The hallucinatory drug PCP (phencyclidine)

A) is an antagonist of the NMDA receptor.
B) facilitates the binding of glutamate to the AMPA receptor.
C) releases serotonin from neurons in the raphe nuclei.
D) inhibits the dendrites of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area.
E) acts via the blockade of serotonin receptors.

Question 47

Match up the transmitter substance below with the appropriate behavioral role or action of that transmitter.

A) acetylcholine; facilitation of perceptual learning
B) dopamine; suppresses certain species-typical behaviors
C) norepinephrine; facilitation of learning
D) serotonin; increases vigilance
E) GABA; generally activates voluntary movements

Question 48

Which of the following is true of NMDA receptors?

A) Activation of the NMDA receptor allows sodium and calcium ions to flow into the nerve cell.
B) NMDA receptors are metabotropic.
C) NMDA receptors are the most common glutamate receptor.
D) The activity of the NMDA receptor is not dependent on magnesium ions.
E) The NMDA receptor produces IPSPs.

Question 49

Someone with epilepsy might be prescribed a medicine to increase __________ action.

A) glutamate
B) GABA
C) glycine
D) serotonin
E) dopamine

Question 50

Cholinergic neurons within the ________ are thought to ________.

A) basal forebrain; control the electrical activity of the thalamus
B) dorsolateral pons; facilitate learning
C) medial septum; elicit most of the aspects of REM sleep
D) cerebellum; elicit motor movements
E) dorsolateral pons; elicit most of the aspects of REM sleep

Question 51

Glutamate, GABA, and glycine are important because these are

A) the major excitatory neurotransmitters in the CNS.
B) known to be solely inhibitory in the brain.
C) the predominant neuromodulators in the spinal cord.
D) the most common neurotransmitters in the CNS.
E) involved in Parkinson's disease.

Question 52

Which of the following is an incorrect match between a neurotransmitter and its effects?

A) glutamate; generally excitatory in the brain
B) acetylcholine; activates the cortex and facilitates learning
C) glycine; generally inhibitory in the brain
D) glutamate; released by all sensory neurons
E) acetylcholine; subject to reuptake by the axon terminals

Question 53

The GABA_A receptor is ________ and controls a ________ channel.

A) ionotropic; chloride
B) ionotropic; potassium
C) metabotropic; chloride
D) metabotropic; potassium
E) ionotropic; sodium

Question 54

Which pair of transmitters are the primary excitatory and inhibitory (respectively) transmitters in the brain?

A) glutamate; acetylcholine
B) GABA; glycine
C) glycine; acetylcholine
D) glutamate; GABA
E) acetylcholine; dopamine

Question 55

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is produced from

A) polyamines.
B) butyric acid.
C) glutamic acid.
D) glycine.
E) lysergic acid.

Question 56

Which of the following is true of GABA in the brain?

A) GABA is involved in Parkinson's disease.
B) GABA has a general excitatory effect.
C) An excess of GABA may result in epilepsy.
D) Drugs that antagonize GABA function reduce anxiety.
E) The inhibitory effects of GABA act to stabilize the electrical activity of the brain.

Question 57

The GABA_A antagonist ________ can induce motor convulsions.

A) muscimol
B) glutamate
C) diazepam
D) baclofen
E) picrotoxin

Question 58

Which of the following is a correct match between a drug and its effect on GABA function?

A) muscimol; agonist at the GABA_B receptor
B) picrotoxin; indirect antagonist of the GABA_A receptor
C) diazepam; reduces the activity of GABA_A receptors
D) baclofen; antagonist at the GABA_A receptor
E) nicotine; agonist at the GABA_A receptor

Question 59

Which of the following is a reason that is it is difficult to prove that amino acids can function as neurotransmitters?

A) Amino acids can be released from nerve terminals.
B) Postsynaptic receptor activation by application of amino acids can excite or inhibit neurons.
C) Amino acids are found within glial cells.
D) Amino acids play a role in protein synthesis for all nerve cells.
E) Amino acids are found within few cells of the brain.

Question 60

Termination of the postsynaptic potential would be expected from a drug or process that acts to

A) increase synthesis of the neurotransmitter molecule.
B) enzymatically degrade the neurotransmitter molecule.
C) blocks transport of the neurotransmitter molecule through the axon membrane.
D) increase the number of postsynaptic receptors.
E) increase release of the neurotransmitter.

Question 61

Hemicholnium-3 blocks the choline transporter, preventing recycling of choline. This drug is a(n)

A) agonist.
B) promotor.
C) villain.
D) antagonist.
E) precursor.

Question 62

It is possible to contract botulism by

A) eating black olives that were improperly canned.
B) using eye drops containing atropine.
C) being bitten by a black widow spider.
D) eating mayonnaise straight from the jar.
E) over-exercise following a large meal.

Question 63

Which pair of drugs below is known to facilitate and inhibit (respectively) the release of acetylcholine?

A) fluoxetine; nicotine
B) botulinum toxin; muscarine
C) botulinum toxin; black widow spider venom
D) black widow spider venom; botulinum toxin
E) black widow spider venom; fluoxetine

Question 64

Which pair of drugs below are antagonists for the muscarinic and nicotinic (respectively) receptors?

A) atropine; curare
B) hemicholium; atropine
C) curare; atropine
D) muscarine; nicotine
E) acetylcholinesterase; choline acetyltransferase

Question 65

Damage to the ________ cholinergic system would be expected to impair learning.

A) dorsolateral pons
B) hypothalamocortical
C) basal forebrain
D) medial septal
E) corticospinal

Question 66

Which of the following is true of the cholinergic systems?

A) Hemicholium blocks the release of acetylcholine from peripheral neurons.
B) Acetylcholinesterase blocks the reuptake of choline into the presynaptic terminal.
C) The drug atropine is used to treat myasthenia gravis.
D) Muscarinic receptors are more numerous than nicotinic receptors in the brain.
E) Black widow spider venom prevents the release of acetylcholine.

Question 67

Nicotinic receptors are found in ________ in the periphery and in ________ in the brain.

A) cardiac fibers; glial cells
B) muscle fibers; axoaxonic synapses
C) the pupils; axoaxonic synapses
D) cardiac fibers; axodendritic synapses
E) the lungs; axodendritic synapses

Question 68

Tyrosine is the precursor for the synthesis of

A) serotonin.
B) dopamine.
C) glutamate.
D) acetylcholine.
E) glycine.

Question 69

Which of the following is classified as an indolamine?

A) glycine
B) serotonin
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine
E) norepinephrine

Question 70

Which pair below represents the receptor subtypes for acetylcholine?

A) cholinergic; adrenergic
B) muscarinic; adrenergic
C) alpha-cholinergic; beta-cholinergic
D) nicotinic; muscarinic
E) beta-cholinergic; delta-cholinergic

Question 71

Monoaminergic neurons include

A) GABAergic neurons.
B) glutamatergic neurons.
C) acetyl cholinergic neurons.
D) serotonergic neurons.
E) glycinergic neurons.

Question 72

An ionotropic cholinergic receptor produces a postsynaptic potential that is

A) slow to develop but short in duration.
B) rapid but of long duration.
C) not related to the opening of an ion channel.
D) rapid and short in duration.
E) slow to develop and long in duration.

Question 73

Since curare blocks nicotinic receptors, it stands to reason that this drug is often used to

A) tighten wrinkled skin.
B) block pain reactivity during tooth extractions.
C) minimize muscle weakness in persons suffering from myasthenia gravis.
D) dilate the pupils of the eyes.
E) induce relaxation during surgery.

Question 74

Match up the cholinergic fiber system with the correct role of that system in the control of behavior.

A) Most CNS circuits that use ACh are inhibitory for learning.
B) Cholinergic neurons in the dorsolateral pons are involved in the control of the electrical rhythms of the hippocampus.
C) Cholinergic neurons in the medial septum are involved in the control of the electrical rhythms of the hippocampus.
D) Cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain are involved in the control of REM sleep.
E) Cholinergic neurons in the medial septum facilitate learning.

Question 75

Degeneration of neurons within the ________ dopamine system leads to Parkinson's disease.

A) nigrostriatal
B) mesocortical
C) hypothalamocortical
D) mesolimbic
E) retinal-suprachiasmatic

Question 76

The drug ________ causes pupil dilation by blocking ________ receptors.

A) cocaine; dopaminergic
B) atropine; muscarinic
C) curare; muscarinic
D) belladona; adrenergic
E) muscarine; nicotinic

Question 77

The postsynaptic action of acetylcholine is terminated by

A) reuptake of choline into the presynaptic terminal.
B) reuptake of acetylcholine into the presynaptic terminal.
C) enzymatic destruction via acetylcholinesterase.
D) diffusion away from the synapse.
E) reduced synthesis of acetylcholine.

Question 78

A drug that blocks acetylcholinesterase in brain would be expected to

A) permanently damage brain cholinergic neurons.
B) decrease the amount of acetylcholine in the synapse.
C) increase the synaptic levels of acetylcholine.
D) alter the activity of the cholinergic autoreceptors.
E) reduce the rate of reuptake of acetylcholine into glial cells.

Question 79

The disease process of myasthenia gravis produces muscle weakness by

A) overproducing ACh receptors on muscles.
B) reducing ACh function in the basal forebrain.
C) reducing the number of ACh receptors on muscles.
D) reducing ACh function in the dorsolateral pons.
E) enhancing the release of glycine onto spinal cord motoneurons.

Question 80

Muscle contractions often need to happen quickly so they are controlled via _____________ receptors.

A) ionotropic
B) metabotropic
C) serotonergic
D) dopaminergic
E) synthetic