ANCC PMHNP Exam Prep Study Guide Graded A 2023!!

mesocortical pathway - executive function: attention, focus, depression nigrostriatal pathway - from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum (muscles): Parkinson's mesolimbic pathway - projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system). Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling Tuberoinfundibular pathway - regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary). Hypersexuality in mania Dopamine - produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways Serotonin - 5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams. 5HT2A receptors = atypical antipsychotics. Norepinephrine - produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance GABA - inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines. ACTH - motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with balance. Decrease in Alzheimer's disease hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - CRH, ACTH, then cortisol. Worsens with stress and depression hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite. hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions cause infertility problems. gray matter - neurons are found frontal lobe - executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's area) Temporal lobe - memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)