PSYC 179 Quizzes 1-9 | Full Questions and
Answers | 2026/27 Update | 100% Correct -
University of California, San Diego.
PSYC 179 Quizzes 1-9 | Full Questions and Answers | 2026/27 Update | 100%
Correct - University of California, San Diego
QUIZ 1: Introduction to Psychopharmacology
1. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule at the receptor binding
site. Which of the following best describes an agonist?
A) A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it
B) A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks it
C) A drug that binds to a receptor and has no effect
D) A drug that destroys the receptor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule at the receptor binding site: an
agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a biological
response. An antagonist binds to a receptor and blocks it, preventing activation. A
partial agonist produces a partial response.
,2. Which of the following routes of administration produces the fastest onset of
drug effects?
A) Oral
B) Intravenous
C) Subcutaneous
D) Intramuscular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intravenous (IV) administration produces the fastest onset because the
drug enters the bloodstream directly. Oral administration is slower due to
absorption in the GI tract. Subcutaneous and intramuscular are intermediate.
3. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule during metabolism.
Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A) Kidney
B) Liver
C) Lungs
D) Heart
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule during metabolism: the liver is
primarily responsible for drug metabolism through the cytochrome P450 enzyme
system. The kidneys are primarily responsible for drug excretion.
4. Which of the following is the study of how drugs move through the body?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacogenetics
D) Pharmacotherapy
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of how drugs move through the body,
including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics is the study of how drugs affect the body.
5. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule at the blood-brain
barrier. Which of the following drugs crosses the blood-brain barrier most
easily?
A) Lipid-soluble drugs
B) Water-soluble drugs
C) Protein-bound drugs
D) Ionized drugs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule at the blood-brain barrier: lipid-
soluble drugs cross the blood-brain barrier most easily because the barrier is
composed of lipid membranes. Water-soluble, protein-bound, and ionized drugs
cross less easily.
6. Which of the following is an example of a neurotransmitter?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Norepinephrine
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are all neurotransmitters.
Other neurotransmitters include acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, and endorphins.
, 7. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule at the synapse. Which
of the following increases neurotransmitter levels in the synapse?
A) Reuptake inhibitors
B) Receptor antagonists
C) Enzymes that degrade neurotransmitters
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule at the synapse: reuptake inhibitors
increase neurotransmitter levels by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters
into the presynaptic neuron. Receptor antagonists block receptors. Enzymes
degrade neurotransmitters.
8. Which of the following is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the
brain?
A) GABA
B) Glutamate
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Dopamine and serotonin are
modulatory neurotransmitters.
9. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule during distribution.
Which of the following factors affects drug distribution?
A) Blood flow
B) Protein binding
C) Lipid solubility
D) All of the above
Answers | 2026/27 Update | 100% Correct -
University of California, San Diego.
PSYC 179 Quizzes 1-9 | Full Questions and Answers | 2026/27 Update | 100%
Correct - University of California, San Diego
QUIZ 1: Introduction to Psychopharmacology
1. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule at the receptor binding
site. Which of the following best describes an agonist?
A) A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it
B) A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks it
C) A drug that binds to a receptor and has no effect
D) A drug that destroys the receptor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule at the receptor binding site: an
agonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a biological
response. An antagonist binds to a receptor and blocks it, preventing activation. A
partial agonist produces a partial response.
,2. Which of the following routes of administration produces the fastest onset of
drug effects?
A) Oral
B) Intravenous
C) Subcutaneous
D) Intramuscular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intravenous (IV) administration produces the fastest onset because the
drug enters the bloodstream directly. Oral administration is slower due to
absorption in the GI tract. Subcutaneous and intramuscular are intermediate.
3. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule during metabolism.
Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
A) Kidney
B) Liver
C) Lungs
D) Heart
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule during metabolism: the liver is
primarily responsible for drug metabolism through the cytochrome P450 enzyme
system. The kidneys are primarily responsible for drug excretion.
4. Which of the following is the study of how drugs move through the body?
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
C) Pharmacogenetics
D) Pharmacotherapy
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics is the study of how drugs move through the body,
including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics is the study of how drugs affect the body.
5. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule at the blood-brain
barrier. Which of the following drugs crosses the blood-brain barrier most
easily?
A) Lipid-soluble drugs
B) Water-soluble drugs
C) Protein-bound drugs
D) Ionized drugs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule at the blood-brain barrier: lipid-
soluble drugs cross the blood-brain barrier most easily because the barrier is
composed of lipid membranes. Water-soluble, protein-bound, and ionized drugs
cross less easily.
6. Which of the following is an example of a neurotransmitter?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Norepinephrine
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are all neurotransmitters.
Other neurotransmitters include acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, and endorphins.
, 7. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule at the synapse. Which
of the following increases neurotransmitter levels in the synapse?
A) Reuptake inhibitors
B) Receptor antagonists
C) Enzymes that degrade neurotransmitters
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The rotation of the drug molecule at the synapse: reuptake inhibitors
increase neurotransmitter levels by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters
into the presynaptic neuron. Receptor antagonists block receptors. Enzymes
degrade neurotransmitters.
8. Which of the following is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the
brain?
A) GABA
B) Glutamate
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Dopamine and serotonin are
modulatory neurotransmitters.
9. A student is studying the rotation of the drug molecule during distribution.
Which of the following factors affects drug distribution?
A) Blood flow
B) Protein binding
C) Lipid solubility
D) All of the above
