MSN 671: Advanced Psychopharmacology —
Comprehensive Exam Bank | 200 Questions with Rationales
1. An action potential traveling down the presynaptic axon triggers which event
upon reaching the terminal?
A. Closure of voltage-sensitive calcium channels
B. Exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles into the synaptic cleft
C. Reuptake of neurotransmitters by the presynaptic neuron
D. Binding of neurotransmitters to presynaptic auto receptors
Answer: B. Exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles into the synaptic cleft
Rationale: When an action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal, voltage-
sensitive calcium channels open, allowing Ca²⁺ to enter. This influx triggers the
exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles, releasing their contents into the
synaptic cleft. The released neurotransmitters then bind to postsynaptic receptors to
initiate a new signal.
2. Presynaptic reuptake transporters are a major method of inactivation for which
of the following neurotransmitters?
A. Dopamine and norepinephrine only
B. Serotonin and GABA
C. Acetylcholine and glutamate
D. Dopamine and serotonin
Answer: B. Serotonin and GABA
Rationale: Presynaptic reuptake transporters are a major method of inactivation
for serotonin and GABA. These transporters remove neurotransmitters from the
synaptic cleft by recycling them back into the presynaptic neuron, terminating their
action on postsynaptic receptors.
,3. What is constitutive activity in the context of receptor signaling?
A. Signal transduction that occurs only when an agonist is bound to the receptor
B. Signal transduction that occurs only when an inverse agonist is bound
C. Signal transduction that occurs when no agonist or inverse agonist is bound to
the receptor
D. Signal transduction that occurs when an antagonist is bound to the receptor
Answer: C. Signal transduction that occurs when no agonist or inverse agonist is
bound to the receptor
Rationale: Constitutive activity is the baseline level of signal transduction that
occurs when no agonist or inverse agonist is bound to the receptor . This represents
the receptor's intrinsic activity independent of ligand binding.
4. A partial agonist has what effect on neurotransmission?
A. Net antagonism when neurotransmission is deficient and net agonism when
neurotransmission is excessive
B. Net agonism when neurotransmission is deficient and net antagonism when
neurotransmission is excessive
C. Complete blockade of receptor activity at all times
D. Full activation of receptor activity at all times
Answer: B. Net agonism when neurotransmission is deficient and net antagonism
when neurotransmission is excessive
Rationale: A partial agonist produces a net agonistic effect when
neurotransmission is deficient (by partially activating the receptor) and a net
antagonistic effect when neurotransmission is excessive (by competing with
endogenous full agonists and reducing overall receptor activation).
,5. Which of the following describes the phenomenon of volume
neurotransmission?
A. Neurotransmission occurring only at synaptic junctions
B. Diffusion of neurotransmitters through the extracellular fluid to reach receptors
at a distance from the release site
C. Neurotransmission that occurs exclusively in the central nervous system
D. Reuptake of neurotransmitters into the presynaptic neuron
Answer: B. Diffusion of neurotransmitters through the extracellular fluid to reach
receptors at a distance from the release site
Rationale: Volume neurotransmission describes the diffusion of neurotransmitters
through the extracellular fluid to reach receptors at a distance from the release site .
This is in contrast to "wired" transmission, which occurs at specific synaptic
junctions.
6. A patient with schizophrenia is being treated with an antipsychotic medication.
Which neurobiological mechanism is most directly targeted by the medication?
A. Enhancement of serotonergic transmission
B. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonism
C. Enhancement of GABAergic transmission
D. Acetylcholine receptor agonism
Answer: B. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonism
Rationale: Antipsychotic medications primarily work by blocking dopamine D2
receptors in the mesolimbic pathway, reducing the excessive dopaminergic activity
believed to contribute to positive symptoms of schizophrenia .
7. The transcription factor FosB is best described by which statement?
, A. It accumulates in cells of the amygdala
B. It is rapidly induced after administration of many drugs of abuse
C. It up-regulates expression of all genes it affects
D. It exhibits tolerance with repeated drug exposures
Answer: B. It is rapidly induced after administration of many drugs of abuse
Rationale: FosB is a transcription factor that is rapidly induced after
administration of many drugs of abuse . Its accumulation in brain reward regions
contributes to long-term neuroadaptations associated with addiction.
8. In addiction neurobiology, ΔFosB is important because it:
A. Mediates the acute rewarding effects of drugs
B. Accumulates with repeated drug exposure and produces persistent changes in
gene expression
C. Is specific to opioid addiction
D. Is degraded immediately after drug cessation
Answer: B. Accumulates with repeated drug exposure and produces persistent
changes in gene expression
Rationale: ΔFosB is a stable splice variant of FosB that accumulates with repeated
drug exposure, producing persistent changes in gene expression that contribute to
addiction-related behaviors .
9. The opponent-process model of addiction suggests that:
A. Dopamine is the sole neurotransmitter involved in drug reward
B. The initial euphoric response to a drug is followed by an opposing dysphoric
withdrawal response
C. All drugs of abuse have identical mechanisms of action
D. Addiction is purely a behavioral choice
Comprehensive Exam Bank | 200 Questions with Rationales
1. An action potential traveling down the presynaptic axon triggers which event
upon reaching the terminal?
A. Closure of voltage-sensitive calcium channels
B. Exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles into the synaptic cleft
C. Reuptake of neurotransmitters by the presynaptic neuron
D. Binding of neurotransmitters to presynaptic auto receptors
Answer: B. Exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles into the synaptic cleft
Rationale: When an action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal, voltage-
sensitive calcium channels open, allowing Ca²⁺ to enter. This influx triggers the
exocytosis of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles, releasing their contents into the
synaptic cleft. The released neurotransmitters then bind to postsynaptic receptors to
initiate a new signal.
2. Presynaptic reuptake transporters are a major method of inactivation for which
of the following neurotransmitters?
A. Dopamine and norepinephrine only
B. Serotonin and GABA
C. Acetylcholine and glutamate
D. Dopamine and serotonin
Answer: B. Serotonin and GABA
Rationale: Presynaptic reuptake transporters are a major method of inactivation
for serotonin and GABA. These transporters remove neurotransmitters from the
synaptic cleft by recycling them back into the presynaptic neuron, terminating their
action on postsynaptic receptors.
,3. What is constitutive activity in the context of receptor signaling?
A. Signal transduction that occurs only when an agonist is bound to the receptor
B. Signal transduction that occurs only when an inverse agonist is bound
C. Signal transduction that occurs when no agonist or inverse agonist is bound to
the receptor
D. Signal transduction that occurs when an antagonist is bound to the receptor
Answer: C. Signal transduction that occurs when no agonist or inverse agonist is
bound to the receptor
Rationale: Constitutive activity is the baseline level of signal transduction that
occurs when no agonist or inverse agonist is bound to the receptor . This represents
the receptor's intrinsic activity independent of ligand binding.
4. A partial agonist has what effect on neurotransmission?
A. Net antagonism when neurotransmission is deficient and net agonism when
neurotransmission is excessive
B. Net agonism when neurotransmission is deficient and net antagonism when
neurotransmission is excessive
C. Complete blockade of receptor activity at all times
D. Full activation of receptor activity at all times
Answer: B. Net agonism when neurotransmission is deficient and net antagonism
when neurotransmission is excessive
Rationale: A partial agonist produces a net agonistic effect when
neurotransmission is deficient (by partially activating the receptor) and a net
antagonistic effect when neurotransmission is excessive (by competing with
endogenous full agonists and reducing overall receptor activation).
,5. Which of the following describes the phenomenon of volume
neurotransmission?
A. Neurotransmission occurring only at synaptic junctions
B. Diffusion of neurotransmitters through the extracellular fluid to reach receptors
at a distance from the release site
C. Neurotransmission that occurs exclusively in the central nervous system
D. Reuptake of neurotransmitters into the presynaptic neuron
Answer: B. Diffusion of neurotransmitters through the extracellular fluid to reach
receptors at a distance from the release site
Rationale: Volume neurotransmission describes the diffusion of neurotransmitters
through the extracellular fluid to reach receptors at a distance from the release site .
This is in contrast to "wired" transmission, which occurs at specific synaptic
junctions.
6. A patient with schizophrenia is being treated with an antipsychotic medication.
Which neurobiological mechanism is most directly targeted by the medication?
A. Enhancement of serotonergic transmission
B. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonism
C. Enhancement of GABAergic transmission
D. Acetylcholine receptor agonism
Answer: B. Dopamine D2 receptor antagonism
Rationale: Antipsychotic medications primarily work by blocking dopamine D2
receptors in the mesolimbic pathway, reducing the excessive dopaminergic activity
believed to contribute to positive symptoms of schizophrenia .
7. The transcription factor FosB is best described by which statement?
, A. It accumulates in cells of the amygdala
B. It is rapidly induced after administration of many drugs of abuse
C. It up-regulates expression of all genes it affects
D. It exhibits tolerance with repeated drug exposures
Answer: B. It is rapidly induced after administration of many drugs of abuse
Rationale: FosB is a transcription factor that is rapidly induced after
administration of many drugs of abuse . Its accumulation in brain reward regions
contributes to long-term neuroadaptations associated with addiction.
8. In addiction neurobiology, ΔFosB is important because it:
A. Mediates the acute rewarding effects of drugs
B. Accumulates with repeated drug exposure and produces persistent changes in
gene expression
C. Is specific to opioid addiction
D. Is degraded immediately after drug cessation
Answer: B. Accumulates with repeated drug exposure and produces persistent
changes in gene expression
Rationale: ΔFosB is a stable splice variant of FosB that accumulates with repeated
drug exposure, producing persistent changes in gene expression that contribute to
addiction-related behaviors .
9. The opponent-process model of addiction suggests that:
A. Dopamine is the sole neurotransmitter involved in drug reward
B. The initial euphoric response to a drug is followed by an opposing dysphoric
withdrawal response
C. All drugs of abuse have identical mechanisms of action
D. Addiction is purely a behavioral choice
