NR 546 Midterm Exam 3 – Advanced
Psychopharmacology – (2026)
300 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 NR 546 Midterm Exam 3 – Advanced Psychopharmacology – (2026)
,Q1
Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tryptophan and is the primary target of SSRIs?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin CORRECT
C) Norepinephrine
D) Acetylcholine
Rationale
Serotonin is synthesized from tryptophan, and SSRIs increase synaptic serotonin by blocking its
transporter.
Q2
Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tyrosine and is deficient in the nigrostriatal pathway
in Parkinson disease?
A) Serotonin
B) GABA
C) Dopamine CORRECT
D) Glutamate
Rationale
Dopamine is synthesized from tyrosine, and degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons
produces Parkinson disease.
Q3
Which enzyme converts dopamine to norepinephrine?
A) Tyrosine hydroxylase
B) Dopamine beta-hydroxylase CORRECT
C) Monoamine oxidase
D) Catechol-O-methyltransferase
2
,Rationale
Dopamine beta-hydroxylase converts dopamine to norepinephrine inside synaptic vesicles.
Q4
Which enzyme is the rate-limiting step in catecholamine synthesis?
A) Tyrosine hydroxylase CORRECT
B) Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase
C) Dopamine beta-hydroxylase
D) Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase
Rationale
Tyrosine hydroxylase catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA, the rate-limiting step in
catecholamine synthesis.
Q5
Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult CNS?
A) Glutamate
B) GABA CORRECT
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Rationale
GABA mediates fast inhibitory neurotransmission, primarily through GABA-A receptors.
Q6
Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?
A) GABA
B) Glycine
C) Glutamate CORRECT
3
, D) Dopamine
Rationale
Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter and is critical for synaptic plasticity.
Q7
Which receptor is the primary target of benzodiazepines?
A) GABA-A CORRECT
B) GABA-B
C) NMDA
D) 5-HT2A
Rationale
Benzodiazepines are positive allosteric modulators at GABA-A receptors, enhancing inhibitory chloride
currents.
Q8
Which receptor is blocked by memantine?
A) NMDA CORRECT
B) AMPA
C) GABA-A
D) D2
Rationale
Memantine is a low-affinity uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist used in Alzheimer disease.
Q9
Which receptor subtype is the primary target of buspirone?
A) 5-HT1A CORRECT
4
Psychopharmacology – (2026)
300 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 NR 546 Midterm Exam 3 – Advanced Psychopharmacology – (2026)
,Q1
Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tryptophan and is the primary target of SSRIs?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin CORRECT
C) Norepinephrine
D) Acetylcholine
Rationale
Serotonin is synthesized from tryptophan, and SSRIs increase synaptic serotonin by blocking its
transporter.
Q2
Which neurotransmitter is synthesized from tyrosine and is deficient in the nigrostriatal pathway
in Parkinson disease?
A) Serotonin
B) GABA
C) Dopamine CORRECT
D) Glutamate
Rationale
Dopamine is synthesized from tyrosine, and degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons
produces Parkinson disease.
Q3
Which enzyme converts dopamine to norepinephrine?
A) Tyrosine hydroxylase
B) Dopamine beta-hydroxylase CORRECT
C) Monoamine oxidase
D) Catechol-O-methyltransferase
2
,Rationale
Dopamine beta-hydroxylase converts dopamine to norepinephrine inside synaptic vesicles.
Q4
Which enzyme is the rate-limiting step in catecholamine synthesis?
A) Tyrosine hydroxylase CORRECT
B) Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase
C) Dopamine beta-hydroxylase
D) Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase
Rationale
Tyrosine hydroxylase catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA, the rate-limiting step in
catecholamine synthesis.
Q5
Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult CNS?
A) Glutamate
B) GABA CORRECT
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Rationale
GABA mediates fast inhibitory neurotransmission, primarily through GABA-A receptors.
Q6
Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?
A) GABA
B) Glycine
C) Glutamate CORRECT
3
, D) Dopamine
Rationale
Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter and is critical for synaptic plasticity.
Q7
Which receptor is the primary target of benzodiazepines?
A) GABA-A CORRECT
B) GABA-B
C) NMDA
D) 5-HT2A
Rationale
Benzodiazepines are positive allosteric modulators at GABA-A receptors, enhancing inhibitory chloride
currents.
Q8
Which receptor is blocked by memantine?
A) NMDA CORRECT
B) AMPA
C) GABA-A
D) D2
Rationale
Memantine is a low-affinity uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist used in Alzheimer disease.
Q9
Which receptor subtype is the primary target of buspirone?
A) 5-HT1A CORRECT
4
