MSN 671 Final 2026
Communication between all human CNS neurons at the synapses is: - answer
Chemical
When neurotransmission occurs without a synapse, what is it called? - answer Volume
neurotransmission
Which is an example of a neurotransmitter produced specifically as a retrograde
neurotransmitter? - answer Nitric oxide
Which is an example of a volume neurotransmission? - answer Dopamine in the
prefrontal cortex
In a G protein-linked signal transduction cascade, where is the second messenger
synthesized? – answer Intracellularly
Which type of pump supplies the energy for the transport of monoamines? -
answerSodium pump
A partial agonist has what effect on neurotransmission? - answerNet agonism when
neurotransmission is deficient, net antagonism when neurotransmission is excessive
Which is true regarding inverse agonists? - answerTheir action is thought to produce a
conformational change in the G-protein-linked receptor that stabilizes it in an inactive
form, producing a reduction in signal transduction
Which of the following block the actions of everything in the agonist spectrum? -
answerAntagonists
What regulates the opening of ligand-gated ion channels? - answerNeurotransmitters
What regulates the opening of voltage-gated ion channels? - answerThe charge across
the membrane
What happens to an ion channel when both a neurotransmitter and positive allosteric
modulator bind to a receptor? - answerThe channel opens much more frequently,
allowing more ions into the cell
What impact do agonists have on ligand-gated ion channels? - answerThey cause
ligand-gated ion channels to open more frequently
, The known receptor sites for ligand-gated ion channels are: - answerBoth inside and
outside the channel
When voltage-sensitive sodium channels are open and activated, the flow of sodium is:
- answerInto the neuron
The activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors require the presence of: -
answerGlutamate and glycine
A leading hypothesis of psychosis is: - answerHypo-functioning of NMDA receptors
Dysfunction at NMDA-receptor containing synapses is hypothesized to lead to
excessive glutamate release into the ventral trigeminal area. Downstream, this is
hypothesized to lead to what effects on dopamine (DA)? - answerExcessive DA release
in the NA and reduced DA release in the PFC
The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia centers heavily around the idea
that aberrant competitive elimination occurs. Competitive elimination is a stage of
neurodevelopment in which: - answerRarely used synapses are pruned, while
frequently used synapses are preserved
For which set of disorders is psychosis considered an associated feature rather than a
defining feature for diagnosis? - answerBipolar mania, Parkinson's disease
Symptoms of schizophrenia are hypothetically attributable to malfunctioning in the: -
answerMesocortical and mesolimbic pathways
Dopamine (DA) receptors can be categorized as D1-like (D1 and D5 receptors) and D2-
like (D2, D3, and D4 receptors). What differentiates the two groups of receptors? -
answerD1-like receptors are excitatory and D2-like receptors are inhibitory
A 21-year-old man who has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia presents with his
parents. He speaks with a reserved and simple language processing style; he is able to
understand and relate to simple questions but seems to get lost when the pace of the
conversation between clinician and parents accelerates. When reviewing the patient's
history, what pattern of cognitive functioning prior to psychosis onset would you be most
likely to find? - answerImpaired cognitive functioning pre-morbidly with further decline
during the prodromal phase
Receptor with four transmembrane regions changes conformation as GABA binds.
Which system is this process describing? - answerLigand-gated ion channel
Receptor will stop responding to an agonist: - answerWhen the agonist stops binding to
it, when the receptor becomes desensitized, and when the receptor becomes
inactivated
Communication between all human CNS neurons at the synapses is: - answer
Chemical
When neurotransmission occurs without a synapse, what is it called? - answer Volume
neurotransmission
Which is an example of a neurotransmitter produced specifically as a retrograde
neurotransmitter? - answer Nitric oxide
Which is an example of a volume neurotransmission? - answer Dopamine in the
prefrontal cortex
In a G protein-linked signal transduction cascade, where is the second messenger
synthesized? – answer Intracellularly
Which type of pump supplies the energy for the transport of monoamines? -
answerSodium pump
A partial agonist has what effect on neurotransmission? - answerNet agonism when
neurotransmission is deficient, net antagonism when neurotransmission is excessive
Which is true regarding inverse agonists? - answerTheir action is thought to produce a
conformational change in the G-protein-linked receptor that stabilizes it in an inactive
form, producing a reduction in signal transduction
Which of the following block the actions of everything in the agonist spectrum? -
answerAntagonists
What regulates the opening of ligand-gated ion channels? - answerNeurotransmitters
What regulates the opening of voltage-gated ion channels? - answerThe charge across
the membrane
What happens to an ion channel when both a neurotransmitter and positive allosteric
modulator bind to a receptor? - answerThe channel opens much more frequently,
allowing more ions into the cell
What impact do agonists have on ligand-gated ion channels? - answerThey cause
ligand-gated ion channels to open more frequently
, The known receptor sites for ligand-gated ion channels are: - answerBoth inside and
outside the channel
When voltage-sensitive sodium channels are open and activated, the flow of sodium is:
- answerInto the neuron
The activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors require the presence of: -
answerGlutamate and glycine
A leading hypothesis of psychosis is: - answerHypo-functioning of NMDA receptors
Dysfunction at NMDA-receptor containing synapses is hypothesized to lead to
excessive glutamate release into the ventral trigeminal area. Downstream, this is
hypothesized to lead to what effects on dopamine (DA)? - answerExcessive DA release
in the NA and reduced DA release in the PFC
The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia centers heavily around the idea
that aberrant competitive elimination occurs. Competitive elimination is a stage of
neurodevelopment in which: - answerRarely used synapses are pruned, while
frequently used synapses are preserved
For which set of disorders is psychosis considered an associated feature rather than a
defining feature for diagnosis? - answerBipolar mania, Parkinson's disease
Symptoms of schizophrenia are hypothetically attributable to malfunctioning in the: -
answerMesocortical and mesolimbic pathways
Dopamine (DA) receptors can be categorized as D1-like (D1 and D5 receptors) and D2-
like (D2, D3, and D4 receptors). What differentiates the two groups of receptors? -
answerD1-like receptors are excitatory and D2-like receptors are inhibitory
A 21-year-old man who has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia presents with his
parents. He speaks with a reserved and simple language processing style; he is able to
understand and relate to simple questions but seems to get lost when the pace of the
conversation between clinician and parents accelerates. When reviewing the patient's
history, what pattern of cognitive functioning prior to psychosis onset would you be most
likely to find? - answerImpaired cognitive functioning pre-morbidly with further decline
during the prodromal phase
Receptor with four transmembrane regions changes conformation as GABA binds.
Which system is this process describing? - answerLigand-gated ion channel
Receptor will stop responding to an agonist: - answerWhen the agonist stops binding to
it, when the receptor becomes desensitized, and when the receptor becomes
inactivated
