NUR 252- Exam 4-
Psychobiology Review Questions and
Correct Answers
Anxiety definition ✅sense of dread without any apparent stimulus, leads to negative
coping mechanisms
Avoidance (in anxiety) ✅social interactions, relationships, opportunities for growth
Somatic responses (in anxiety) ✅palpitations, sweating, rapid breathing
Potential causes of anxiety ✅traumatic events and stress
Genetic influences
What neurotransmitters are impacted to cause anxiety? ✅decreased GABA receptors
in amygdala and hippocampus (may be decrease in serotonin as well)
Anxiety mechanism ✅1) stress
2) norepinephrine inappropriately activates the NE system in locus coeruleus and an
imbalance between NE and other neurotransmitter systems (dopamine, glutamate,
cortisol releasing hormone)
Consolidation (anxiety) ✅occurs in amygdala, memories of fearful stimuli are stored
Re-consolidation (anxiety) ✅process by which an older memory is activated and
reinforced. When cues recall a fear memory, it becomes part of new experience, part of
long-term
Caudate nucleus (anxiety) ✅drives behavior based on recall of past successful
outcomes; if this area does not function well, recall is impaired and only negative
aspects are focused on
Amygdala (anxiety) ✅hyperactive or hyerresponsive in anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) ✅recurring unwanted thoughts, ideas, or
sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repititively
(compulsions)
Neurotransmitters involved in OCD ✅reduction in serotonin, increased cortisol levels;
increased frontal lobe activity (guilt, intense affect, worry) and basal ganglia
abnormalities
, PET scans in OCD ✅higher metabolic rates in prefrontal cortex, leading to overactive
circuits
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) ✅state of excessive worrying that interferes with
daily function
What parts of the brain and neurotransmitters are involved in generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD)? ✅limbic system and midbrain involved; increased levels of
norepinephrine, decreased levels of GABA
Free floating anxiety (GAD) ✅involves typical cognitive symptoms of anxiety; anxiety
and worry are out of proportion to feared event; individual knows degree of anxiety is
abnormal which just increases it more
What behaviors are common in free floating anxiety (GAD)? ✅avoidance behaviors;
can evolve into OCD or phobic disorders
Cognitive symptoms of free-floating anxiety (GAD) ✅having trouble with memory,
concentration, and focus
PTSD and suicide ✅hyperresponsiveness of the amygdala occurs, contributing to
suicidal thoughts
PTSD mechanism ✅consolidation and re-consolidation heavily impacts:
1) initial traumatic event
2) beyond the "realm of normal human experience"
3) symptoms involves memory (flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, impaired memory),
cognition (difficulty concentrating), sleep disturbances, somatic problems
Panic disorder ✅sudden episodes of intense fear results in increased sympathetic
function; palpitations, sweating, feelings of unreality, avoidance of situation
What is considered a "fear-center" anxiety disorder? ✅panic disorder, episodes may
occur following a situation mind associates with negative consequences
Neurotransmitters involved in panic disorder ✅increase in circulating norepinephrine,
due to fight or flight response, decrease in GABA, increased glutamate
Trigger for panic disorder ✅caffeine
What kind of episodes are present in panic disorders? ✅discrete episodes which occur
without warning
Psychobiology Review Questions and
Correct Answers
Anxiety definition ✅sense of dread without any apparent stimulus, leads to negative
coping mechanisms
Avoidance (in anxiety) ✅social interactions, relationships, opportunities for growth
Somatic responses (in anxiety) ✅palpitations, sweating, rapid breathing
Potential causes of anxiety ✅traumatic events and stress
Genetic influences
What neurotransmitters are impacted to cause anxiety? ✅decreased GABA receptors
in amygdala and hippocampus (may be decrease in serotonin as well)
Anxiety mechanism ✅1) stress
2) norepinephrine inappropriately activates the NE system in locus coeruleus and an
imbalance between NE and other neurotransmitter systems (dopamine, glutamate,
cortisol releasing hormone)
Consolidation (anxiety) ✅occurs in amygdala, memories of fearful stimuli are stored
Re-consolidation (anxiety) ✅process by which an older memory is activated and
reinforced. When cues recall a fear memory, it becomes part of new experience, part of
long-term
Caudate nucleus (anxiety) ✅drives behavior based on recall of past successful
outcomes; if this area does not function well, recall is impaired and only negative
aspects are focused on
Amygdala (anxiety) ✅hyperactive or hyerresponsive in anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) ✅recurring unwanted thoughts, ideas, or
sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repititively
(compulsions)
Neurotransmitters involved in OCD ✅reduction in serotonin, increased cortisol levels;
increased frontal lobe activity (guilt, intense affect, worry) and basal ganglia
abnormalities
, PET scans in OCD ✅higher metabolic rates in prefrontal cortex, leading to overactive
circuits
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) ✅state of excessive worrying that interferes with
daily function
What parts of the brain and neurotransmitters are involved in generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD)? ✅limbic system and midbrain involved; increased levels of
norepinephrine, decreased levels of GABA
Free floating anxiety (GAD) ✅involves typical cognitive symptoms of anxiety; anxiety
and worry are out of proportion to feared event; individual knows degree of anxiety is
abnormal which just increases it more
What behaviors are common in free floating anxiety (GAD)? ✅avoidance behaviors;
can evolve into OCD or phobic disorders
Cognitive symptoms of free-floating anxiety (GAD) ✅having trouble with memory,
concentration, and focus
PTSD and suicide ✅hyperresponsiveness of the amygdala occurs, contributing to
suicidal thoughts
PTSD mechanism ✅consolidation and re-consolidation heavily impacts:
1) initial traumatic event
2) beyond the "realm of normal human experience"
3) symptoms involves memory (flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, impaired memory),
cognition (difficulty concentrating), sleep disturbances, somatic problems
Panic disorder ✅sudden episodes of intense fear results in increased sympathetic
function; palpitations, sweating, feelings of unreality, avoidance of situation
What is considered a "fear-center" anxiety disorder? ✅panic disorder, episodes may
occur following a situation mind associates with negative consequences
Neurotransmitters involved in panic disorder ✅increase in circulating norepinephrine,
due to fight or flight response, decrease in GABA, increased glutamate
Trigger for panic disorder ✅caffeine
What kind of episodes are present in panic disorders? ✅discrete episodes which occur
without warning
