STUDYSAGE
Drugs and Behaviour, PSYC
450 exam| complete study
guide with updated
answers,|newest 2025
Compare and contrast the function of auto receptors and transporters. -
CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Auto receptors, located in the membrane of presynaptic
nerve cells. Auto receptors can be found on any part of the cell membrane, the
Soma, dendrites, axon, or axon terminal. Auto receptors are usually G protein-
coupled receptors, therefore act via a second messenger rather than gated ion
channels. It is only sensitive to the neurotransmitters or hormones released by
the neuron on which the auto receptor sits.
Transporters, proteins that carry neurotransmitters across cell membranes.
Synaptic Transporters remove neurotransmitters and halt their actions, but
Transporters can also carry neurotransmitters into the synapse, allowing them to
bind to receptors and cause and effect.
Name the major serotonin cell clusters in the brainstem and describe their
projection pathways. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔M ️ ost of the serotonergic
neurons in the central nervous system are found along the middle of the
brainstem associated with cell clusters called the raphe nuclei. The dorsal raphe
nuclei and the median raphe nuclei send serotogenic fibers to almost all of the
areas in the forebrain. Almost all forebrain regions, including the neocortex,
striatum and nucleus accumbens, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus and
amygdala, receive serotonin supply from the raphe nuclei.
Distinguish between short-term excitotoxic effects of glutamate and the delayed
type of cell death called apoptosis. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Excitotoxicity:
when nerve cells are damaged by prolonged exposure to glutamate,(necrosis).
SUCCESS
,STUDYSAGE
Excessive exposure to glutamate can damage and sometimes kill nerve cells
through depolarization of the cell. However, if overexposure to glutamate, or the
amount of time the cell is exposed is reduced, the cells return to a normal state.
In humans, excitotoxic cell death can be caused by ingesting food contaminated
with demonic acid or through stroke and traumatic brain injury. Traumatic cell
death.
Apoptosis, a delayed cell death which involves disruption of the cell nucleus and
breakdown of DNA. It's a biochemical process of programmed cell death. Occurs
normally during fetal brain development. Excitotoxic treatments may also activate
apoptosis. Biologically controlled cell death.
Define the therapeutic index and describe how it is calculated and why it is
important. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️The therapeutic index calculate drug
safety. It compares the amount of drug that causes a therapeutic effect to the
amount that causes toxicity in most people. The therapeutic index is determined
by taking the ED50 ( the dose of a particular drug that produces 50% of the
maximum effect) and comparing it with the TD 50, 50% toxic dose, or the dose at
which 50% of the population experiences a Toxic effect. This information is
plotted on a dose-response curve. The therapeutic index is important when
considering the benefits versus risk of serious side effects for people who might
use the drug.
Name and briefly describe the functions of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex -
CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Occipital lobe, the primary visual cortex. Visual
reception and interpretation.
Perietal lobe, primary somatosensory cortex. Sense of touch, taste and smell.
Spatial perception.
Temporal lobe, primary auditory cortex. Understanding language.
Frontal lobe, primary motor cortex. Movement and executive planning.
SUCCESS
,STUDYSAGE
Explain what is meant by face, predictive, and construct validity. Which is most
important for the development of clinically useful medications - CORRECT
ANSWERS✔️✔️Construct validity refers to the extent to which there is evidence
that a test measures a specific hypothetical construct. IE the extent to which
animal behavioral measurement tools actually measure the target behavior in the
animal.
Face validity refers to the degree to which an assessment or test appears to
measure the variable it is supposed to measure. Being able to transfer testing /
results from inside the lab to other environments with similar results. IE blood
pressure tests on lab animals, resemble those tests used for humans.
Predictive validity refers to the extent to which a score on a scale or test predict
scores on a Criterion measured. I e drug effects observed in a lab predict clinical
effect of the drug.
Describe the components of the cyclical pattern of pathological drug use and how
it can lead to addiction. Be specific with regard to how the DSM-5 criteria fit into
this model. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Pattern has three components:
1, periods of preoccupation with drugs and anticipation of upcoming use.
2, periods of drug intoxication that may be associated with binging on the drug.
drug.
3, periods following drug use that are marked by withdrawal symptoms and
negative effect.
Overtime, repeating this cycle, as well as taking drugs and larger amounts than
intended and development of drug tolerance, leads to a downward spiral that can
ultimately result in addiction. Nearly taking a drug does not indicate a substance
use disorder. The use must be maladaptive, or cause harm to the user, as
indicated in the DSM. The cyclical Model includes some of the features that
represent criteria for substance dependence in the DSM, there are 11 criteria, of
SUCCESS
, STUDYSAGE
which two must be present, in addition to a maladaptive pattern of substance use
over a 12-month period.
Describe three procedures researchers can use to produce relapse to drug-
seeking behavior in animal - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️In animals that have been
trained to self administer a drug by performing an operant response, and then
have been extinguished on that response, relapse or renewed responding, can be
provoked by:
1. administering a priming dose of the drug
2. Presenting a stimulus q that was previously paired with drug delivery.
3. Stressing the animal.
describe the ways males and females differ with regard to the effects of alcohol. -
CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️1. The prevalence of alcoholism is higher in men(20%)
than in women (5-6%).
2. Alcohol induced organ damage and related medical issues are more severe in
women and develop more quickly and female alcoholics have a higher death rate
than male alcoholics.
3. Less efficient gastric metabolism and smaller fluid volume in women causes
more rapidly rising and higher BAC for equivalent doses of alcohol. Higher BAC
means that women experience more effects, including increase memory
impairment, greater probability of blackouts and increased motor impairment.
Describe the serious physical consequences that chronic or high-dose cocaine use
can have on various systems of the body what have Imaging and postmortem
studies shown about the effect of heavy cocaine use on the - CORRECT
ANSWERS✔️✔️Stroke and seizure, abnormalities in gray and white matter,
cardiovascular problems including heart attack, damage to other organ systems
and possible abnormalities in the development of Offspring exposed to cocaine
prenatally. Panic attacks and onset of paranoid psychotic responses. Perforation
SUCCESS
Drugs and Behaviour, PSYC
450 exam| complete study
guide with updated
answers,|newest 2025
Compare and contrast the function of auto receptors and transporters. -
CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Auto receptors, located in the membrane of presynaptic
nerve cells. Auto receptors can be found on any part of the cell membrane, the
Soma, dendrites, axon, or axon terminal. Auto receptors are usually G protein-
coupled receptors, therefore act via a second messenger rather than gated ion
channels. It is only sensitive to the neurotransmitters or hormones released by
the neuron on which the auto receptor sits.
Transporters, proteins that carry neurotransmitters across cell membranes.
Synaptic Transporters remove neurotransmitters and halt their actions, but
Transporters can also carry neurotransmitters into the synapse, allowing them to
bind to receptors and cause and effect.
Name the major serotonin cell clusters in the brainstem and describe their
projection pathways. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔M ️ ost of the serotonergic
neurons in the central nervous system are found along the middle of the
brainstem associated with cell clusters called the raphe nuclei. The dorsal raphe
nuclei and the median raphe nuclei send serotogenic fibers to almost all of the
areas in the forebrain. Almost all forebrain regions, including the neocortex,
striatum and nucleus accumbens, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus and
amygdala, receive serotonin supply from the raphe nuclei.
Distinguish between short-term excitotoxic effects of glutamate and the delayed
type of cell death called apoptosis. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Excitotoxicity:
when nerve cells are damaged by prolonged exposure to glutamate,(necrosis).
SUCCESS
,STUDYSAGE
Excessive exposure to glutamate can damage and sometimes kill nerve cells
through depolarization of the cell. However, if overexposure to glutamate, or the
amount of time the cell is exposed is reduced, the cells return to a normal state.
In humans, excitotoxic cell death can be caused by ingesting food contaminated
with demonic acid or through stroke and traumatic brain injury. Traumatic cell
death.
Apoptosis, a delayed cell death which involves disruption of the cell nucleus and
breakdown of DNA. It's a biochemical process of programmed cell death. Occurs
normally during fetal brain development. Excitotoxic treatments may also activate
apoptosis. Biologically controlled cell death.
Define the therapeutic index and describe how it is calculated and why it is
important. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️The therapeutic index calculate drug
safety. It compares the amount of drug that causes a therapeutic effect to the
amount that causes toxicity in most people. The therapeutic index is determined
by taking the ED50 ( the dose of a particular drug that produces 50% of the
maximum effect) and comparing it with the TD 50, 50% toxic dose, or the dose at
which 50% of the population experiences a Toxic effect. This information is
plotted on a dose-response curve. The therapeutic index is important when
considering the benefits versus risk of serious side effects for people who might
use the drug.
Name and briefly describe the functions of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex -
CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Occipital lobe, the primary visual cortex. Visual
reception and interpretation.
Perietal lobe, primary somatosensory cortex. Sense of touch, taste and smell.
Spatial perception.
Temporal lobe, primary auditory cortex. Understanding language.
Frontal lobe, primary motor cortex. Movement and executive planning.
SUCCESS
,STUDYSAGE
Explain what is meant by face, predictive, and construct validity. Which is most
important for the development of clinically useful medications - CORRECT
ANSWERS✔️✔️Construct validity refers to the extent to which there is evidence
that a test measures a specific hypothetical construct. IE the extent to which
animal behavioral measurement tools actually measure the target behavior in the
animal.
Face validity refers to the degree to which an assessment or test appears to
measure the variable it is supposed to measure. Being able to transfer testing /
results from inside the lab to other environments with similar results. IE blood
pressure tests on lab animals, resemble those tests used for humans.
Predictive validity refers to the extent to which a score on a scale or test predict
scores on a Criterion measured. I e drug effects observed in a lab predict clinical
effect of the drug.
Describe the components of the cyclical pattern of pathological drug use and how
it can lead to addiction. Be specific with regard to how the DSM-5 criteria fit into
this model. - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️Pattern has three components:
1, periods of preoccupation with drugs and anticipation of upcoming use.
2, periods of drug intoxication that may be associated with binging on the drug.
drug.
3, periods following drug use that are marked by withdrawal symptoms and
negative effect.
Overtime, repeating this cycle, as well as taking drugs and larger amounts than
intended and development of drug tolerance, leads to a downward spiral that can
ultimately result in addiction. Nearly taking a drug does not indicate a substance
use disorder. The use must be maladaptive, or cause harm to the user, as
indicated in the DSM. The cyclical Model includes some of the features that
represent criteria for substance dependence in the DSM, there are 11 criteria, of
SUCCESS
, STUDYSAGE
which two must be present, in addition to a maladaptive pattern of substance use
over a 12-month period.
Describe three procedures researchers can use to produce relapse to drug-
seeking behavior in animal - CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️In animals that have been
trained to self administer a drug by performing an operant response, and then
have been extinguished on that response, relapse or renewed responding, can be
provoked by:
1. administering a priming dose of the drug
2. Presenting a stimulus q that was previously paired with drug delivery.
3. Stressing the animal.
describe the ways males and females differ with regard to the effects of alcohol. -
CORRECT ANSWERS✔️✔️1. The prevalence of alcoholism is higher in men(20%)
than in women (5-6%).
2. Alcohol induced organ damage and related medical issues are more severe in
women and develop more quickly and female alcoholics have a higher death rate
than male alcoholics.
3. Less efficient gastric metabolism and smaller fluid volume in women causes
more rapidly rising and higher BAC for equivalent doses of alcohol. Higher BAC
means that women experience more effects, including increase memory
impairment, greater probability of blackouts and increased motor impairment.
Describe the serious physical consequences that chronic or high-dose cocaine use
can have on various systems of the body what have Imaging and postmortem
studies shown about the effect of heavy cocaine use on the - CORRECT
ANSWERS✔️✔️Stroke and seizure, abnormalities in gray and white matter,
cardiovascular problems including heart attack, damage to other organ systems
and possible abnormalities in the development of Offspring exposed to cocaine
prenatally. Panic attacks and onset of paranoid psychotic responses. Perforation
SUCCESS
