NR 546 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
WEEK 8 NEUROTRANSMITTER
TABLE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF
NURSING | 100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES
(2026/2027)
1. Which neurotransmitter is considered the primary excitatory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
Answer: B. Glutamate
Rationale: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and
plays important roles in learning, memory, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal
signaling.
2. Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the adult brain?
Answer: B. GABA
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the CNS and decreases neuronal excitability.
3. Which glutamate receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel associated with
fast excitatory neurotransmission?
Answer: A. AMPA
Rationale: AMPA receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors that mediate
rapid excitatory postsynaptic transmission.
4. Which glutamate receptor is particularly important in synaptic plasticity
and learning and memory?
Answer: C. NMDA
,Rationale: NMDA receptors contribute to synaptic plasticity and long-term
potentiation, processes important for learning and memory.
5. Which medication is an NMDA receptor antagonist used in Alzheimer
disease?
Answer: D. Memantine
Rationale: Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist used to reduce
excessive glutamatergic activity in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer disease.
6. Which medication is an AMPA receptor antagonist used in seizure
management?
Answer: A. Perampanel
Rationale: Perampanel selectively antagonizes AMPA receptors and is used as
an antiseizure medication.
7. Which GABA receptor is a ligand-gated chloride channel?
Answer: A. GABA-A
Rationale: GABA-A receptors are ionotropic receptors that increase chloride
conductance and rapidly inhibit neuronal activity.
8. Which GABA receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor?
Answer: C. GABA-B
Rationale: GABA-B receptors are metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors
that produce slower inhibitory effects.
9. Benzodiazepines primarily enhance the activity of which
neurotransmitter?
Answer: B. GABA
Rationale: Benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A receptor activity, increasing
inhibitory neurotransmission and producing anxiolytic, sedative,
anticonvulsant, and muscle-relaxant effects.
10. Which medication is a GABA-B receptor agonist commonly used to
reduce muscle spasticity?
, Answer: C. Baclofen
Rationale: Baclofen activates GABA-B receptors and is commonly used to treat
spasticity.
11. Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tryptophan?
Answer: A. Serotonin
Rationale: Tryptophan is converted through enzymatic steps to serotonin, also
known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).
12. Which enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis?
Answer: B. Tryptophan hydroxylase
Rationale: Tryptophan hydroxylase converts tryptophan to 5-
hydroxytryptophan, the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis.
13. Which serotonin receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel?
Answer: D. 5-HT3
Rationale: 5-HT3 is the major ionotropic serotonin receptor; most other
serotonin receptors are G-protein-coupled.
14. Which medication blocks 5-HT3 receptors and is commonly used to
prevent nausea and vomiting?
Answer: A. Ondansetron
Rationale: Ondansetron is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist used for
prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.
15. Which serotonin receptor is strongly associated with neuronal
excitation and is targeted by several atypical antipsychotics?
Answer: B. 5-HT2A
Rationale: 5-HT2A receptors are important postsynaptic serotonin receptors
and are antagonized by many second-generation antipsychotics.
16. Which drug is a 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist used for acute migraine
treatment?
WEEK 8 NEUROTRANSMITTER
TABLE STUDY GUIDE |
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF
NURSING | 100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES
(2026/2027)
1. Which neurotransmitter is considered the primary excitatory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
Answer: B. Glutamate
Rationale: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and
plays important roles in learning, memory, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal
signaling.
2. Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the adult brain?
Answer: B. GABA
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the CNS and decreases neuronal excitability.
3. Which glutamate receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel associated with
fast excitatory neurotransmission?
Answer: A. AMPA
Rationale: AMPA receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors that mediate
rapid excitatory postsynaptic transmission.
4. Which glutamate receptor is particularly important in synaptic plasticity
and learning and memory?
Answer: C. NMDA
,Rationale: NMDA receptors contribute to synaptic plasticity and long-term
potentiation, processes important for learning and memory.
5. Which medication is an NMDA receptor antagonist used in Alzheimer
disease?
Answer: D. Memantine
Rationale: Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist used to reduce
excessive glutamatergic activity in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer disease.
6. Which medication is an AMPA receptor antagonist used in seizure
management?
Answer: A. Perampanel
Rationale: Perampanel selectively antagonizes AMPA receptors and is used as
an antiseizure medication.
7. Which GABA receptor is a ligand-gated chloride channel?
Answer: A. GABA-A
Rationale: GABA-A receptors are ionotropic receptors that increase chloride
conductance and rapidly inhibit neuronal activity.
8. Which GABA receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor?
Answer: C. GABA-B
Rationale: GABA-B receptors are metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors
that produce slower inhibitory effects.
9. Benzodiazepines primarily enhance the activity of which
neurotransmitter?
Answer: B. GABA
Rationale: Benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A receptor activity, increasing
inhibitory neurotransmission and producing anxiolytic, sedative,
anticonvulsant, and muscle-relaxant effects.
10. Which medication is a GABA-B receptor agonist commonly used to
reduce muscle spasticity?
, Answer: C. Baclofen
Rationale: Baclofen activates GABA-B receptors and is commonly used to treat
spasticity.
11. Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tryptophan?
Answer: A. Serotonin
Rationale: Tryptophan is converted through enzymatic steps to serotonin, also
known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).
12. Which enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis?
Answer: B. Tryptophan hydroxylase
Rationale: Tryptophan hydroxylase converts tryptophan to 5-
hydroxytryptophan, the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis.
13. Which serotonin receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel?
Answer: D. 5-HT3
Rationale: 5-HT3 is the major ionotropic serotonin receptor; most other
serotonin receptors are G-protein-coupled.
14. Which medication blocks 5-HT3 receptors and is commonly used to
prevent nausea and vomiting?
Answer: A. Ondansetron
Rationale: Ondansetron is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist used for
prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.
15. Which serotonin receptor is strongly associated with neuronal
excitation and is targeted by several atypical antipsychotics?
Answer: B. 5-HT2A
Rationale: 5-HT2A receptors are important postsynaptic serotonin receptors
and are antagonized by many second-generation antipsychotics.
16. Which drug is a 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist used for acute migraine
treatment?
