Which neurotransmitter’s reuptake is blocked by Ritalin (methylphenidate)?
Dopamine
Which neurotransmitter is primarily inhibitory and is implicated in anxiety disorders, motor control, vision, and sleep?
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). Low GABA → anxiety, seizures, hyperexcitability.
Soon after starting an antidepressant, a woman develops dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, and blurred vision.
These symptoms indicate what type of side effect, and what type of drug could alleviate them?
These are anticholinergic side effects, and they can be alleviated by a cholinergic agonist (e.g., nicotine, pilocarpine).
Common with: tricyclic antidepressants, some antipsychotics, antihistamines.
Counteracted by: stimulating cholinergic activity to restore balance.
Which class of antidepressants can trigger a hypertensive crisis when combined with foods containing tyramine (like aged cheese or wine)?
MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors).
Long-term use of chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is most likely to cause which serious movement disorder?
Tardive dyskinesia – involuntary, repetitive movements (e.g., tongue protrusion, lip smacking), often irreversible and classically associated with long-term typical antipsychotic use, especially high-potency and first-generation drugs like chlorpromazine and haloperidol.
Which neurotransmitter deficiency is most closely linked to Huntington’s disease?
GABA
Which neurotransmitter is low in Bulimia Nervosa, PTSD, and OCD, but elevated in most other anxiety and mood disorders?
Serotonin (5-HT). Low serotonin is linked to impulsivity, binge–purge cycles, and obsessive behaviors, hence its role in bulimia, PTSD, and OCD.
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Which neurotransmitter is most directly involved in muscle activation and coordination between nerves and muscles?
Acetylcholine (ACh).ACh is released at neuromuscular junctions to trigger muscle contraction.
It’s also key in memory and attention within the CNS.
Which neurotransmitter system does naltrexone primarily act on to reduce alcohol craving and block its reinforcing effects?
The opioid (endorphin) system.
A woman experiences polyuria (frequent urination) and polydipsia (excessive thirst) while taking a mood stabilizer.
Which medication is the most likely cause of these side effects?
Lithium
Which brain structure is primarily responsible for maintaining homeostasis, including temperature, hunger, and hormonal regulation?
Hypothalamus The hypothalamus regulates internal balance—temperature, thirst, hunger, circadian rhythm, and endocrine control via the pituitary.
Damage to the parietal lobe can cause a combination of finger agnosia, right–left confusion, agraphia, and acalculia.
What is this syndrome called?
Gerstmann’s syndrome. Gerstmann’s syndrome results from parietal lobe (angular gyrus) damage.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily inhibitory and linked to anxiety and sleep regulation?
GABA GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS.
Lesions to the right (nondominant) hemisphere of the cerebral cortex are most likely to affect which aspect of emotion?
Emotional expression and affect — leading to indifference or flat affect.
Which class of antidepressants can cause a hypertensive crisis when combined with foods containing tyramine?
MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors).
Which brain structure acts as a relay station for almost all sensory information—except smell—to the cerebral cortex?
Thalamus The thalamus relays sensory signals from the body to the appropriate cortical areas.
Which disorder results from degeneration of the caudate nucleus and putamen, causing jerking/writhing movements and dementia, and is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern?
Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s → degeneration of basal ganglia (caudate + putamen).
Which brain structure acts as the bridge connecting the spinal cord and brain, controlling vital functions like heart rate and breathing?
Medulla oblongata. Regulates heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and controls reflexes like coughing or swallowing.
Which type of drug effect involves blocking or opposing a neurotransmitter’s action on the postsynaptic receptor?
Antagonist
A person cannot recognize objects by touch but can describe their appearance accurately.
This symptom indicates tactile agnosia due to damage in which lobe of the brain?
Parietal lobe.
Which hormone is most effective for restoring sexual desire and arousal in women after menopause or oophorectomy (removal of ovaries)?
Androgen Androgens (e.g., testosterone) play a major role in sexual desire and arousal in both sexes.
Which of the following senses is not relayed through the thalamus before reaching the cortex?
Smell (olfaction) The thalamus relays nearly all sensory information—except smell.
Which disorder is characterized by excessive hostility and impatience that increases the risk of coronary heart disease, especially in men?
Type A behavior pattern. Type A individuals are competitive, time-urgent, and easily angered.
