ESTUDYR
NEUROTRANSMITTERS FOR THE ANCC PMHNP EXAM UPDATED EXAM
WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ |
ASSURED SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
Which neurotransmitter is most strongly implicated in the positive symptoms of
schizophrenia (hallucinations, delusions)?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Dopamine
D. Acetylcholine
Rationale: Excess dopaminergic transmission in mesolimbic pathways is associated with positive
psychotic symptoms.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in attention, memory, REM sleep, muscle tone,
and autonomic functions?
A. GABA
B. Acetylcholine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Glutamate
Rationale: Acetylcholine (ACh) modulates cortical arousal, attention, memory encoding, REM
sleep, and neuromuscular function.
A deficit of acetylcholine in the brain is most likely to produce which clinical picture?
A. Anxiety and hypervigilance
B. Impaired memory and decreased inhibitory control (e.g., Alzheimer-type cognitive deficits)
C. Sedation and reduced reflexes
D. Hallucinations and psychosis
Rationale: Low ACh is linked to memory impairment (Alzheimer disease) and decreased cortical
inhibition.
Excess central acetylcholine tends to produce which effects?
A. Increased wakefulness with stimulant effects
B. Overinhibition, somatic complaints, extrapyramidal symptoms (drooling), anxiety
C. Euphoria and mania
D. Profound analgesia
Rationale: Elevated cholinergic tone can increase parasympathetic/central inhibitory signs and
contribute to EPS via basal ganglia balance.
, ESTUDYR
Which neurotransmitter is the brain’s major inhibitory transmitter?
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
D. Norepinephrine
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) reduces neuronal excitability and anxiety.
The principal clinical functions of GABA include:
A. Increasing pain sensitivity
B. Reducing arousal, aggression, anxiety, and excitability
C. Stimulating appetite and libido
D. Producing memory consolidation
Rationale: GABAergic systems provide inhibitory tone and anxiolytic effects.
Excess GABAergic activity is most likely to cause:
A. Seizures and hyperactivity
B. Sedation, impaired memory, reduced cellular excitability
C. Psychosis
D. Insomnia
Rationale: Too much GABA causes CNS depression and cognitive slowing.
A deficit in GABA can clinically present with:
A. Profound sedation only
B. Hypoarousal and bradycardia
C. Irritability, tension, anxiety, hostility, and possible seizures
D. Increased appetite only
Rationale: Lack of inhibitory GABA tone may lead to anxiety and disinhibition; severe deficiency
can lower seizure threshold.
Which neurotransmitter is the major excitatory (inducer) neurotransmitter important for
memory and autonomic regulation?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Glutamate
D. Acetylcholine
Rationale: Glutamate mediates excitatory synaptic transmission and is critical for learning and
long-term potentiation.
A deficit of glutamate signaling most likely produces:
A. Seizures and excitotoxicity
NEUROTRANSMITTERS FOR THE ANCC PMHNP EXAM UPDATED EXAM
WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ |
ASSURED SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
Which neurotransmitter is most strongly implicated in the positive symptoms of
schizophrenia (hallucinations, delusions)?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Dopamine
D. Acetylcholine
Rationale: Excess dopaminergic transmission in mesolimbic pathways is associated with positive
psychotic symptoms.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in attention, memory, REM sleep, muscle tone,
and autonomic functions?
A. GABA
B. Acetylcholine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Glutamate
Rationale: Acetylcholine (ACh) modulates cortical arousal, attention, memory encoding, REM
sleep, and neuromuscular function.
A deficit of acetylcholine in the brain is most likely to produce which clinical picture?
A. Anxiety and hypervigilance
B. Impaired memory and decreased inhibitory control (e.g., Alzheimer-type cognitive deficits)
C. Sedation and reduced reflexes
D. Hallucinations and psychosis
Rationale: Low ACh is linked to memory impairment (Alzheimer disease) and decreased cortical
inhibition.
Excess central acetylcholine tends to produce which effects?
A. Increased wakefulness with stimulant effects
B. Overinhibition, somatic complaints, extrapyramidal symptoms (drooling), anxiety
C. Euphoria and mania
D. Profound analgesia
Rationale: Elevated cholinergic tone can increase parasympathetic/central inhibitory signs and
contribute to EPS via basal ganglia balance.
, ESTUDYR
Which neurotransmitter is the brain’s major inhibitory transmitter?
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
D. Norepinephrine
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) reduces neuronal excitability and anxiety.
The principal clinical functions of GABA include:
A. Increasing pain sensitivity
B. Reducing arousal, aggression, anxiety, and excitability
C. Stimulating appetite and libido
D. Producing memory consolidation
Rationale: GABAergic systems provide inhibitory tone and anxiolytic effects.
Excess GABAergic activity is most likely to cause:
A. Seizures and hyperactivity
B. Sedation, impaired memory, reduced cellular excitability
C. Psychosis
D. Insomnia
Rationale: Too much GABA causes CNS depression and cognitive slowing.
A deficit in GABA can clinically present with:
A. Profound sedation only
B. Hypoarousal and bradycardia
C. Irritability, tension, anxiety, hostility, and possible seizures
D. Increased appetite only
Rationale: Lack of inhibitory GABA tone may lead to anxiety and disinhibition; severe deficiency
can lower seizure threshold.
Which neurotransmitter is the major excitatory (inducer) neurotransmitter important for
memory and autonomic regulation?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Glutamate
D. Acetylcholine
Rationale: Glutamate mediates excitatory synaptic transmission and is critical for learning and
long-term potentiation.
A deficit of glutamate signaling most likely produces:
A. Seizures and excitotoxicity
