NR 546 Midterm Exam – Advanced
Psychopharmacology – (2026) – Original Practice
Questions
300 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 NR 546 Midterm Exam – Advanced Psychopharmacology – (2026) – Original Practice Questions
,Q1
Which brain region is primarily responsible for speech production, and damage to which can
cause expressive aphasia?
A) Wernicke's area
B) Broca's area CORRECT
C) Amygdala
D) Hippocampus
Rationale
Broca's area in the frontal lobe is responsible for speech production; damage results in expressive (non-
fluent) aphasia.
Q2
Which brain region is primarily associated with language comprehension, and damage to which
can cause receptive aphasia?
A) Broca's area
B) Wernicke's area CORRECT
C) Cerebellum
D) Substantia nigra
Rationale
Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe is responsible for language comprehension; damage causes
receptive (fluent) aphasia.
Q3
Hypofunction of which brain region is associated with the negative symptoms and cognitive
deficits of schizophrenia?
A) Amygdala
B) Prefrontal cortex CORRECT
C) Occipital lobe
D) Cerebellum
2
,Rationale
Prefrontal cortex hypofunction (hypofrontality) is linked to negative symptoms and cognitive impairment
in schizophrenia.
Q4
Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
A) Glutamate
B) GABA CORRECT
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine
Rationale
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and is a key target for anxiolytic and
anticonvulsant medications.
Q5
Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
A) GABA
B) Glutamate CORRECT
C) Serotonin
D) Norepinephrine
Rationale
Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter and plays a central role in synaptic plasticity and
excitotoxicity.
Q6
What is the primary mechanism by which SSRIs increase synaptic serotonin availability?
A) Increasing serotonin synthesis
3
, B) Blocking the serotonin transporter at the presynaptic neuron CORRECT
C) Blocking postsynaptic 5-HT receptors
D) Inhibiting monoamine oxidase exclusively
Rationale
SSRIs inhibit the serotonin transporter, preventing reuptake and thereby increasing serotonin in the
synaptic cleft.
Q7
Which dopamine pathway is primarily associated with the extrapyramidal side effects of
antipsychotic medications?
A) Mesolimbic pathway
B) Nigrostriatal pathway CORRECT
C) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
D) Mesocortical pathway
Rationale
D2 blockade in the nigrostriatal pathway produces extrapyramidal symptoms such as dystonia,
parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia.
Q8
Which dopamine pathway is most associated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
A) Nigrostriatal pathway
B) Mesolimbic pathway CORRECT
C) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
D) Mesocortical pathway
Rationale
Hyperactivity of dopamine D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway is responsible for the positive
symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions.
4
Psychopharmacology – (2026) – Original Practice
Questions
300 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 NR 546 Midterm Exam – Advanced Psychopharmacology – (2026) – Original Practice Questions
,Q1
Which brain region is primarily responsible for speech production, and damage to which can
cause expressive aphasia?
A) Wernicke's area
B) Broca's area CORRECT
C) Amygdala
D) Hippocampus
Rationale
Broca's area in the frontal lobe is responsible for speech production; damage results in expressive (non-
fluent) aphasia.
Q2
Which brain region is primarily associated with language comprehension, and damage to which
can cause receptive aphasia?
A) Broca's area
B) Wernicke's area CORRECT
C) Cerebellum
D) Substantia nigra
Rationale
Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe is responsible for language comprehension; damage causes
receptive (fluent) aphasia.
Q3
Hypofunction of which brain region is associated with the negative symptoms and cognitive
deficits of schizophrenia?
A) Amygdala
B) Prefrontal cortex CORRECT
C) Occipital lobe
D) Cerebellum
2
,Rationale
Prefrontal cortex hypofunction (hypofrontality) is linked to negative symptoms and cognitive impairment
in schizophrenia.
Q4
Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
A) Glutamate
B) GABA CORRECT
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine
Rationale
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and is a key target for anxiolytic and
anticonvulsant medications.
Q5
Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?
A) GABA
B) Glutamate CORRECT
C) Serotonin
D) Norepinephrine
Rationale
Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter and plays a central role in synaptic plasticity and
excitotoxicity.
Q6
What is the primary mechanism by which SSRIs increase synaptic serotonin availability?
A) Increasing serotonin synthesis
3
, B) Blocking the serotonin transporter at the presynaptic neuron CORRECT
C) Blocking postsynaptic 5-HT receptors
D) Inhibiting monoamine oxidase exclusively
Rationale
SSRIs inhibit the serotonin transporter, preventing reuptake and thereby increasing serotonin in the
synaptic cleft.
Q7
Which dopamine pathway is primarily associated with the extrapyramidal side effects of
antipsychotic medications?
A) Mesolimbic pathway
B) Nigrostriatal pathway CORRECT
C) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
D) Mesocortical pathway
Rationale
D2 blockade in the nigrostriatal pathway produces extrapyramidal symptoms such as dystonia,
parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia.
Q8
Which dopamine pathway is most associated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
A) Nigrostriatal pathway
B) Mesolimbic pathway CORRECT
C) Tuberoinfundibular pathway
D) Mesocortical pathway
Rationale
Hyperactivity of dopamine D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway is responsible for the positive
symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions.
4
