NURS 660 SUM EXAM 1 PRACTICE
EVALUATION 2026 QUESTION BANK FULL
SOLUTION SET
◉ Where do positive symptoms originate.
Answer: Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
◉ Medications to treat positive symptoms.
Answer: Antipsychotics
◉ Negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Answer: Flat affect, alogia, affective blunting, asociality, anhedonia,
avolition.
◉ Where do negative symptoms originate.
Answer: Mesocortical dopamine pathway. May also involve
mesolimbic regions such as nucleus accumbens
◉ Medications to treat negative symptoms.
Answer: Vraylar, amisulpride
,◉ Hypotheses of Schizophrenia.
Answer: -Mesolimbic pathway is hypothesized to be hyperactive
resulting in excess dopamine at the synapse.
-The gluatamate activity at NMDA receptors is hypofunctional
◉ Mesolimbic Pathway Theory of Schizophrenia.
Answer: Mesolimbic pathway is hyperactive, resulting in excess
dopamine at the synapse which leads to positive symptoms.
Hyperactivity of mesolimbic dopamine neurons may also play a role
in aggression and hostile symptoms.
◉ Five Different Dopamine Pathways in the brain.
Answer: -Nigrostriatal Dopamine Pathway
-Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
-Mesocorticol dopamine pathway
-Tuberoinfundibular dopamine pathway
-Thalamic dopamine pathway
◉ Nigrostriatal pathway.
Answer: Projects from the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia or
striatum.
-Part of the extrapyramidal nervous system
-Controls motor function and movement
, -When dopamine is deficient, can cause parkinsonism with tremor,
rigidity, and akinesia/bradykinesia
-Excess dopamine- can cause hyperkinetic movements, such as tics
and dyskinesias
◉ Mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
Answer: Projects from the midbrain ventral tegmental area to the
nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system) where many behaviors
such as pleasurable sensations, the powerful euphoria of drug abuse
as well as delusions and hallucinations.
◉ Mesocortical pathway.
Answer: Projects from the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal
cortex and is important for cognition
◉ Tuberofundibular pathway.
Answer: Projects from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary
gland and controls prolaction secretion
◉ Thalamic pathway.
Answer: Arises from multiple sites.
-Function not well known, may be involved in sleep and arousal
mechanisms
EVALUATION 2026 QUESTION BANK FULL
SOLUTION SET
◉ Where do positive symptoms originate.
Answer: Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
◉ Medications to treat positive symptoms.
Answer: Antipsychotics
◉ Negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Answer: Flat affect, alogia, affective blunting, asociality, anhedonia,
avolition.
◉ Where do negative symptoms originate.
Answer: Mesocortical dopamine pathway. May also involve
mesolimbic regions such as nucleus accumbens
◉ Medications to treat negative symptoms.
Answer: Vraylar, amisulpride
,◉ Hypotheses of Schizophrenia.
Answer: -Mesolimbic pathway is hypothesized to be hyperactive
resulting in excess dopamine at the synapse.
-The gluatamate activity at NMDA receptors is hypofunctional
◉ Mesolimbic Pathway Theory of Schizophrenia.
Answer: Mesolimbic pathway is hyperactive, resulting in excess
dopamine at the synapse which leads to positive symptoms.
Hyperactivity of mesolimbic dopamine neurons may also play a role
in aggression and hostile symptoms.
◉ Five Different Dopamine Pathways in the brain.
Answer: -Nigrostriatal Dopamine Pathway
-Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
-Mesocorticol dopamine pathway
-Tuberoinfundibular dopamine pathway
-Thalamic dopamine pathway
◉ Nigrostriatal pathway.
Answer: Projects from the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia or
striatum.
-Part of the extrapyramidal nervous system
-Controls motor function and movement
, -When dopamine is deficient, can cause parkinsonism with tremor,
rigidity, and akinesia/bradykinesia
-Excess dopamine- can cause hyperkinetic movements, such as tics
and dyskinesias
◉ Mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
Answer: Projects from the midbrain ventral tegmental area to the
nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system) where many behaviors
such as pleasurable sensations, the powerful euphoria of drug abuse
as well as delusions and hallucinations.
◉ Mesocortical pathway.
Answer: Projects from the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal
cortex and is important for cognition
◉ Tuberofundibular pathway.
Answer: Projects from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary
gland and controls prolaction secretion
◉ Thalamic pathway.
Answer: Arises from multiple sites.
-Function not well known, may be involved in sleep and arousal
mechanisms
