Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience Instructor Answer Guide
Multiple Choice
3.1 General Neurochemistry Principles
1. Which of the following statements is false?
a. The synaptic communication process often fails because the vesicles are empty.
b. Neurotransmitters become inactive in the presence of oxygen.
c. All neurotransmitters are catabolized after being released.
d. Neurotransmitters may be converted into inactive chemicals while being stored
inside synaptic vesicles.
Answer: c
2. The fusion of a synaptic vesicle at the axonal terminal requires:
a. the action of voltage-dependent sodium channels.
b. the inhibition of potassium channels.
c. the opening of voltage-dependent calcium channels.
d. an elevation in the intracellular concentration of potassium ions.
Answer: c
3. G-Protein coupled receptors are ________ that are ________.
a. lipids / ion channels
b. part of a large family of proteins / linked to nearby ion channels
c. mostly limited to limbic brain regions / used to prevent the fusion of synaptic
vesicles
d. mostly postsynaptic / responsive to endocannabinoids
Answer: b
3.2 Neurotransmitters Made from Amino Acids
4. The production of dopamine begins inside the ________ of the neuron with the production
of ________.
a. cytoplasm / L-DOPA
b. synaptic vesicle / L-DOPA
c. cytoplasm / tyrosine
d. synaptic vesicle / norepinephrine
Answer: a
5. The enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase requires the presence of ________ ions to function
properly.
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Updated October 2024
, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience Instructor Answer Guide
a. calcium
b. iron
c. magnesium
d. potassium
Answer: b
6. L-DOPA is converted into ________ by the removal of a molecule of ________.
a. dopamine / carbon dioxide
b. norepinephrine / oxygen
c. norepinephrine / oxygen
d. dopamine / hydroxyl
Answer: a
7. Dopamine neurons ________than norepinephrine neurons.
a. project to more brain areas
b. are more numerous
c. contain more copper
d. contain more zinc
Answer: b
8. The enzyme Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase is active within the ________ and
produces ________.
a. cytoplasm / norepinephrine
b. synaptic vesicle / dopamine
c. cytoplasm / dopamine
d. synaptic vesicle / epinephrine
Answer: c
9. Dopamine-beta-Hydroxylase is found within the ________ and converts dopamine into
________.
a. synaptic vesicle / norepinephrine
b. cytoplasm / norepinephrine
c. synaptic vesicle / L-DOPA
d. synaptic vesicle / epinephrine
Answer: a
10. The purpose of ascorbic acid inside of the synaptic vesicles is to:
a. act as a co-factor for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase.
b. act as an anti-oxidizing agent.
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Updated October 2024
Multiple Choice
3.1 General Neurochemistry Principles
1. Which of the following statements is false?
a. The synaptic communication process often fails because the vesicles are empty.
b. Neurotransmitters become inactive in the presence of oxygen.
c. All neurotransmitters are catabolized after being released.
d. Neurotransmitters may be converted into inactive chemicals while being stored
inside synaptic vesicles.
Answer: c
2. The fusion of a synaptic vesicle at the axonal terminal requires:
a. the action of voltage-dependent sodium channels.
b. the inhibition of potassium channels.
c. the opening of voltage-dependent calcium channels.
d. an elevation in the intracellular concentration of potassium ions.
Answer: c
3. G-Protein coupled receptors are ________ that are ________.
a. lipids / ion channels
b. part of a large family of proteins / linked to nearby ion channels
c. mostly limited to limbic brain regions / used to prevent the fusion of synaptic
vesicles
d. mostly postsynaptic / responsive to endocannabinoids
Answer: b
3.2 Neurotransmitters Made from Amino Acids
4. The production of dopamine begins inside the ________ of the neuron with the production
of ________.
a. cytoplasm / L-DOPA
b. synaptic vesicle / L-DOPA
c. cytoplasm / tyrosine
d. synaptic vesicle / norepinephrine
Answer: a
5. The enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase requires the presence of ________ ions to function
properly.
1
Updated October 2024
, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience Instructor Answer Guide
a. calcium
b. iron
c. magnesium
d. potassium
Answer: b
6. L-DOPA is converted into ________ by the removal of a molecule of ________.
a. dopamine / carbon dioxide
b. norepinephrine / oxygen
c. norepinephrine / oxygen
d. dopamine / hydroxyl
Answer: a
7. Dopamine neurons ________than norepinephrine neurons.
a. project to more brain areas
b. are more numerous
c. contain more copper
d. contain more zinc
Answer: b
8. The enzyme Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase is active within the ________ and
produces ________.
a. cytoplasm / norepinephrine
b. synaptic vesicle / dopamine
c. cytoplasm / dopamine
d. synaptic vesicle / epinephrine
Answer: c
9. Dopamine-beta-Hydroxylase is found within the ________ and converts dopamine into
________.
a. synaptic vesicle / norepinephrine
b. cytoplasm / norepinephrine
c. synaptic vesicle / L-DOPA
d. synaptic vesicle / epinephrine
Answer: a
10. The purpose of ascorbic acid inside of the synaptic vesicles is to:
a. act as a co-factor for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase.
b. act as an anti-oxidizing agent.
2
Updated October 2024
