NUR 660 EXAM 1 2026 ADVANCED NURSING
THEORY TEST PAPER QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ 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
THEORY TEST PAPER QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ 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
