NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Study Guide
| Questions & Answers | High-Yield
Neurobiology Review | 2026/2027 update.
SECTION 1: DOPAMINE PATHWAYS &
SCHIZOPHRENIA NEUROBIOLOGY (Questions 1–
12)
1. The "positive symptoms" of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations,
are primarily attributed to hyperactivity in which dopamine
pathway?
A) Mesocortical
B) Mesolimbic
C) Nigrostriatal
D) Tuberoinfundibular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Excessive dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway is the
biological basis for the psychotic or "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
2. Negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are
associated with hypoactivity in which pathway?
A) Mesolimbic
B) Nigrostriatal
C) Mesocortical
D) Tuberoinfundibular
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Decreased dopamine in the mesocortical pathway leads to
social withdrawal, flat affect, and executive dysfunction (negative symptoms)
.
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
3. Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS), such as tremors and rigidity, are
caused by dopamine blockade in the:
A) Mesolimbic pathway
B) Mesocortical pathway
C) Nigrostriatal pathway
D) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blocking dopamine in the nigrostriatal tract mimics the
symptoms of Parkinson's disease, causing EPS .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
4. Hyperprolactinemia (leading to milk production or breast growth)
is a side effect of dopamine blockade in the:
A) Mesolimbic pathway
B) Nigrostriatal pathway
C) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
D) Mesocortical pathway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dopamine usually inhibits prolactin; blocking it in the
tuberoinfundibular pathway allows prolactin levels to spike .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
, 5. The "Glutamate Hypothesis" of schizophrenia suggests that which
receptors are hypofunctioning?
A) D2 receptors
B) GABA-A receptors
C) NMDA receptors
D) Alpha-1 receptors
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NMDA receptor hypofunction is thought to lead to
downstream dopamine imbalances in schizophrenia .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
6. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia states that positive
symptoms result from:
A) Too little dopamine in the mesocortical pathway
B) Too much dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway
C) Too little dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway
D) Too much dopamine in the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There is too much dopamine activity in the mesolimbic
dopamine pathway, which leads to positive symptoms (such as
hallucinations and delusions) .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 1 Questions
7. Drug-induced Parkinson's is caused by a decrease of dopamine in
what pathway?
A) Mesolimbic
B) Mesocortical
C) Nigrostriatal
D) Tuberoinfundibular
| Questions & Answers | High-Yield
Neurobiology Review | 2026/2027 update.
SECTION 1: DOPAMINE PATHWAYS &
SCHIZOPHRENIA NEUROBIOLOGY (Questions 1–
12)
1. The "positive symptoms" of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations,
are primarily attributed to hyperactivity in which dopamine
pathway?
A) Mesocortical
B) Mesolimbic
C) Nigrostriatal
D) Tuberoinfundibular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Excessive dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway is the
biological basis for the psychotic or "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
2. Negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are
associated with hypoactivity in which pathway?
A) Mesolimbic
B) Nigrostriatal
C) Mesocortical
D) Tuberoinfundibular
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Decreased dopamine in the mesocortical pathway leads to
social withdrawal, flat affect, and executive dysfunction (negative symptoms)
.
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
3. Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS), such as tremors and rigidity, are
caused by dopamine blockade in the:
A) Mesolimbic pathway
B) Mesocortical pathway
C) Nigrostriatal pathway
D) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blocking dopamine in the nigrostriatal tract mimics the
symptoms of Parkinson's disease, causing EPS .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
4. Hyperprolactinemia (leading to milk production or breast growth)
is a side effect of dopamine blockade in the:
A) Mesolimbic pathway
B) Nigrostriatal pathway
C) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
D) Mesocortical pathway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dopamine usually inhibits prolactin; blocking it in the
tuberoinfundibular pathway allows prolactin levels to spike .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
, 5. The "Glutamate Hypothesis" of schizophrenia suggests that which
receptors are hypofunctioning?
A) D2 receptors
B) GABA-A receptors
C) NMDA receptors
D) Alpha-1 receptors
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: NMDA receptor hypofunction is thought to lead to
downstream dopamine imbalances in schizophrenia .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 4 Final Bank
6. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia states that positive
symptoms result from:
A) Too little dopamine in the mesocortical pathway
B) Too much dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway
C) Too little dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway
D) Too much dopamine in the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: There is too much dopamine activity in the mesolimbic
dopamine pathway, which leads to positive symptoms (such as
hallucinations and delusions) .
Source: NURS 5357 Neurobiology Exam 1 Questions
7. Drug-induced Parkinson's is caused by a decrease of dopamine in
what pathway?
A) Mesolimbic
B) Mesocortical
C) Nigrostriatal
D) Tuberoinfundibular
