STAHL’S ESSENTIAL
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 5TH
EDITION
SECTION I — CHEMICAL NEUROTRANSMISSION
Questions 1–10
Question 1
Which process describes the movement of a neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron
into the synaptic cleft?
A. Reuptake
B. Exocytosis
C. Endocytosis
D. Diffusion into the axon
Answer: B. Exocytosis
Rationale: Neurotransmitters stored in presynaptic vesicles are released into the synaptic
cleft through calcium-dependent exocytosis following an action potential.
Question 2
What is the primary function of the synaptic cleft?
A. Generate action potentials
B. Store neurotransmitters
C. Separate presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
D. Synthesize receptors
Answer: C. Separate presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
Rationale: The synaptic cleft is the small extracellular space separating communicating
neurons. Neurotransmitters cross this space to influence the postsynaptic cell.
Question 3
,Which ion is most directly responsible for triggering neurotransmitter vesicle fusion with the
presynaptic membrane?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
Answer: C. Calcium
Rationale: Depolarization of the presynaptic terminal opens voltage-gated calcium channels.
Calcium influx initiates vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release.
Question 4
A neurotransmitter binds to a receptor and directly opens an ion channel. This receptor is best
classified as a:
A. G-protein-coupled receptor
B. Ligand-gated ion channel
C. Nuclear receptor
D. Transporter
Answer: B. Ligand-gated ion channel
Rationale: Ionotropic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels. Neurotransmitter binding
directly alters ion conductance, generally producing relatively rapid effects.
Question 5
Which mechanism terminates the action of many neurotransmitters?
A. Receptor synthesis
B. Reuptake into the presynaptic neuron
C. Increased DNA transcription
D. Myelin production
Answer: B. Reuptake into the presynaptic neuron
Rationale: Transporters can remove neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft and return
them to the presynaptic neuron or surrounding cells.
Question 6
,Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tyrosine?
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Glutamate
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: A. Dopamine
Rationale: Tyrosine is converted to L-DOPA and subsequently to dopamine. Dopamine can
then serve as a precursor for norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Question 7
Which neurotransmitter is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain?
A. Glutamate
B. GABA
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
Answer: B. GABA
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the adult central nervous system.
Question 8
Which neurotransmitter is generally considered the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in
the brain?
A. Glutamate
B. GABA
C. Glycine
D. Dopamine
Answer: A. Glutamate
Rationale: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
and participates extensively in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity.
Question 9
, Which sequence best represents chemical neurotransmission?
A. Receptor activation → axonal transport → vesicle synthesis → reuptake
B. Action potential → calcium influx → vesicle fusion → neurotransmitter release →
receptor activation
C. Reuptake → receptor synthesis → calcium release → action potential
D. DNA transcription → receptor binding → calcium depletion → exocytosis
Answer: B. Action potential → calcium influx → vesicle fusion → neurotransmitter
release → receptor activation
Rationale: This sequence describes the basic mechanism by which an arriving action
potential causes neurotransmitter release and subsequent postsynaptic signaling.
Question 10
A drug that blocks a neurotransmitter transporter would most directly be expected to:
A. Decrease neurotransmitter concentration in the synapse
B. Increase neurotransmitter clearance
C. Increase neurotransmitter availability in the synaptic cleft
D. Prevent receptor synthesis
Answer: C. Increase neurotransmitter availability in the synaptic cleft
Rationale: Blocking reuptake transporters reduces removal of neurotransmitter from the
synaptic cleft, thereby increasing its extracellular availability.
SECTION II — RECEPTORS, TRANSPORTERS &
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION
Questions 11–20
Question 11
Which receptor type generally produces the fastest postsynaptic response?
A. Ionotropic receptor
B. Metabotropic receptor
C. Nuclear receptor
D. Enzyme-linked receptor
Answer: A. Ionotropic receptor
Rationale: Ionotropic receptors directly control ion channels and therefore produce rapid
changes in membrane potential.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 5TH
EDITION
SECTION I — CHEMICAL NEUROTRANSMISSION
Questions 1–10
Question 1
Which process describes the movement of a neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron
into the synaptic cleft?
A. Reuptake
B. Exocytosis
C. Endocytosis
D. Diffusion into the axon
Answer: B. Exocytosis
Rationale: Neurotransmitters stored in presynaptic vesicles are released into the synaptic
cleft through calcium-dependent exocytosis following an action potential.
Question 2
What is the primary function of the synaptic cleft?
A. Generate action potentials
B. Store neurotransmitters
C. Separate presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
D. Synthesize receptors
Answer: C. Separate presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
Rationale: The synaptic cleft is the small extracellular space separating communicating
neurons. Neurotransmitters cross this space to influence the postsynaptic cell.
Question 3
,Which ion is most directly responsible for triggering neurotransmitter vesicle fusion with the
presynaptic membrane?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Chloride
Answer: C. Calcium
Rationale: Depolarization of the presynaptic terminal opens voltage-gated calcium channels.
Calcium influx initiates vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release.
Question 4
A neurotransmitter binds to a receptor and directly opens an ion channel. This receptor is best
classified as a:
A. G-protein-coupled receptor
B. Ligand-gated ion channel
C. Nuclear receptor
D. Transporter
Answer: B. Ligand-gated ion channel
Rationale: Ionotropic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels. Neurotransmitter binding
directly alters ion conductance, generally producing relatively rapid effects.
Question 5
Which mechanism terminates the action of many neurotransmitters?
A. Receptor synthesis
B. Reuptake into the presynaptic neuron
C. Increased DNA transcription
D. Myelin production
Answer: B. Reuptake into the presynaptic neuron
Rationale: Transporters can remove neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft and return
them to the presynaptic neuron or surrounding cells.
Question 6
,Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tyrosine?
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Glutamate
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: A. Dopamine
Rationale: Tyrosine is converted to L-DOPA and subsequently to dopamine. Dopamine can
then serve as a precursor for norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Question 7
Which neurotransmitter is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain?
A. Glutamate
B. GABA
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
Answer: B. GABA
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the adult central nervous system.
Question 8
Which neurotransmitter is generally considered the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in
the brain?
A. Glutamate
B. GABA
C. Glycine
D. Dopamine
Answer: A. Glutamate
Rationale: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
and participates extensively in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity.
Question 9
, Which sequence best represents chemical neurotransmission?
A. Receptor activation → axonal transport → vesicle synthesis → reuptake
B. Action potential → calcium influx → vesicle fusion → neurotransmitter release →
receptor activation
C. Reuptake → receptor synthesis → calcium release → action potential
D. DNA transcription → receptor binding → calcium depletion → exocytosis
Answer: B. Action potential → calcium influx → vesicle fusion → neurotransmitter
release → receptor activation
Rationale: This sequence describes the basic mechanism by which an arriving action
potential causes neurotransmitter release and subsequent postsynaptic signaling.
Question 10
A drug that blocks a neurotransmitter transporter would most directly be expected to:
A. Decrease neurotransmitter concentration in the synapse
B. Increase neurotransmitter clearance
C. Increase neurotransmitter availability in the synaptic cleft
D. Prevent receptor synthesis
Answer: C. Increase neurotransmitter availability in the synaptic cleft
Rationale: Blocking reuptake transporters reduces removal of neurotransmitter from the
synaptic cleft, thereby increasing its extracellular availability.
SECTION II — RECEPTORS, TRANSPORTERS &
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION
Questions 11–20
Question 11
Which receptor type generally produces the fastest postsynaptic response?
A. Ionotropic receptor
B. Metabotropic receptor
C. Nuclear receptor
D. Enzyme-linked receptor
Answer: A. Ionotropic receptor
Rationale: Ionotropic receptors directly control ion channels and therefore produce rapid
changes in membrane potential.
