BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR FINAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 2026
Glutamic Acid - ANSWER-widely distributed throughout the brain - major excitatory
NT
-involved in: learning & memory and synaptic plasticity
Glutamate receptor types - ANSWER-NMDA
-AMPA
glutamate released into synapses - ANSWER-reabsorbed directly into neutrons or
soaked-up by astrocytes (which convert the glutamate into glutamine)
NMDA receptor - binding sites - ANSWER1) glutamate
2) glycine
3) magnesium
4) zinc
NMDA receptor - involved in and how it works - ANSWER-major player in learning,
memory and neuroplasticity
-part of the way ethanol affects brain functions
-conduct Ca2+
-critical for the development of CNS
Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) - 3 steps - ANSWER-goes from glutamine to
glutamate to GABA
-synthesized from glutamic acid (by GAD) and catabolized back into the Krebs cycle
GABA A receptor - 3 binding sites - ANSWER-barbiturate
-picrotoxin
-steroid
Acetylcholine - ANSWERin CNS, cholinergic neurons clustered in a few areas
-striatum; regulate movement
-basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS); cognitive function, emotion, learning &
memory
-dorsolateral pons; reinforcement, behavioural arousal, sensory processing and REM
sleep
Basal Forebrain - ANSWER-producer of ACh
-role in attention, learning and memory
-deficiency in AD
Biosynthesis of Acetylcholine - ANSWER-Botulinum Toxin prevents release of ACh -
paralysis, death
, Black Widow Spider Venom - ANSWERtriggers release of ACh
-nausea, vomiting, sweating and sometimes death
Destruction of Acetylcholine by Acetychlinesterase - ANSWERNeostigmine
-peripheral; reduces symptoms of myasthenia gravis
Ach Nicotinic Receptors - antagonists and agonists - ANSWER-two molecules of
ACh must bind to open channel for NA+
-if continuously exposed to ACh, become desensitized (won't open)
Agonists
-nicotine from tobacco
Antagonists
-some snake venom
ACh Muscarinic Receptors - ANSWERAgonist
-muscarine (found in poison mushroom)
Antagonist
-atropine and scopolamine (extracted from deadly nightshade flower and other
plants)
Monoamine Neurotransmitters - ANSWERCatecholamines
-indolamine
-ethylamine
Dopamine
-serotonin
Dopamine - involved in and pathways - ANSWER-catecholamine synthesized from
L-DOPA
major CNS dopaminergic systems
-motor
-motivation
-cognition
Dopamine broken down by what - ANSWER-MAO
-COMT
Dopamine disorders - ANSWER-Parkinson's Disease
-Schizophrenia
-Drug use and abuse
Parkinson's Disease - ANSWER-neurological disease
-poor balance, difficulty in initiating movements
-treatment: L-DOPA
-supplement treatments: deprenyl and bromocriptine
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 2026
Glutamic Acid - ANSWER-widely distributed throughout the brain - major excitatory
NT
-involved in: learning & memory and synaptic plasticity
Glutamate receptor types - ANSWER-NMDA
-AMPA
glutamate released into synapses - ANSWER-reabsorbed directly into neutrons or
soaked-up by astrocytes (which convert the glutamate into glutamine)
NMDA receptor - binding sites - ANSWER1) glutamate
2) glycine
3) magnesium
4) zinc
NMDA receptor - involved in and how it works - ANSWER-major player in learning,
memory and neuroplasticity
-part of the way ethanol affects brain functions
-conduct Ca2+
-critical for the development of CNS
Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) - 3 steps - ANSWER-goes from glutamine to
glutamate to GABA
-synthesized from glutamic acid (by GAD) and catabolized back into the Krebs cycle
GABA A receptor - 3 binding sites - ANSWER-barbiturate
-picrotoxin
-steroid
Acetylcholine - ANSWERin CNS, cholinergic neurons clustered in a few areas
-striatum; regulate movement
-basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS); cognitive function, emotion, learning &
memory
-dorsolateral pons; reinforcement, behavioural arousal, sensory processing and REM
sleep
Basal Forebrain - ANSWER-producer of ACh
-role in attention, learning and memory
-deficiency in AD
Biosynthesis of Acetylcholine - ANSWER-Botulinum Toxin prevents release of ACh -
paralysis, death
, Black Widow Spider Venom - ANSWERtriggers release of ACh
-nausea, vomiting, sweating and sometimes death
Destruction of Acetylcholine by Acetychlinesterase - ANSWERNeostigmine
-peripheral; reduces symptoms of myasthenia gravis
Ach Nicotinic Receptors - antagonists and agonists - ANSWER-two molecules of
ACh must bind to open channel for NA+
-if continuously exposed to ACh, become desensitized (won't open)
Agonists
-nicotine from tobacco
Antagonists
-some snake venom
ACh Muscarinic Receptors - ANSWERAgonist
-muscarine (found in poison mushroom)
Antagonist
-atropine and scopolamine (extracted from deadly nightshade flower and other
plants)
Monoamine Neurotransmitters - ANSWERCatecholamines
-indolamine
-ethylamine
Dopamine
-serotonin
Dopamine - involved in and pathways - ANSWER-catecholamine synthesized from
L-DOPA
major CNS dopaminergic systems
-motor
-motivation
-cognition
Dopamine broken down by what - ANSWER-MAO
-COMT
Dopamine disorders - ANSWER-Parkinson's Disease
-Schizophrenia
-Drug use and abuse
Parkinson's Disease - ANSWER-neurological disease
-poor balance, difficulty in initiating movements
-treatment: L-DOPA
-supplement treatments: deprenyl and bromocriptine
