NRS 301 Exam 4 Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Parkinson's is caused due to decreased dopamine release into? - Answers Basal ganglia
How does degeneration of neurons in PD affect the thalamus? - Answers Too much inhibition in
VA/VL of thalamus
Alpha-synuclein is a what protein? - Answers Cytosolic
What two steps of vesicle fusion does alpha-synuclein affect? - Answers Targeting and Priming
Motor symptoms in PD? - Answers Bradykinesia
Imbalance/ rigidity
Difficulty initiating/ stopping movement
Non motor symptoms in PD? - Answers difficulty swallowing
insomnia
anosmia
Normal mitochondrial function: (prior to interaction of its membrane with alpha-synuclein) -
Answers 1. Mitochondrial fission
2. Transport of key proteins to mitochondria
3. Stability of mitochondrial membrane
Disrupted mitochondrial function after interaction with alpha synuclein? - Answers 1. Cant
generate enough ATP
2. Interferes with electron transport chain
3. Increase in ROS
Disrupted ER function after interaction with alpha synuclein? - Answers 1. Interferes with
synthesis of proteins and lipids
2. Alters Ca2+ dynamics
Where does protein aggregation and misfolding start in the brain in PD? - Answers Deep brain
structures
brain stem
,3 treatments for PD: - Answers 1. L-DOPA: Pre-cursor of dopamine; "on" and "off" treatment
2. Dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT) inhibitor: prevents re-uptake of DA from synapse; more
duration of action of DA
3. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: prevent breakdown of DA; increase availability of DA to be
recycled in vesicles
What parts of brain does deep brain stimulation therapy for PD affect? - Answers 1. Subthalamic
nuclei: restore inhibitory sound
2.. of the VA/VL of thalamus: initiate wanted movement
Longest stage of AD: - Answers Moderate dementia due to AD
Preclinical AD symptoms: - Answers 1. noticeable changes in brain structures
2. appearance of biomarkers
Earliest signs of AD even before MCI: - Answers Anosmia
Contribution of Ach? - Answers 1. Learning and memory
2. Mood
3. Sleep-wake cycles
4. motivation
How does excitatory neurotransmitter act? - Answers 1. Muscarinic receptors: GPCR; M1
2. Nicotinic receptors: Ion channels
What ions pass through the cell in nicotinic receptors of excitatory neurotransmitters? -
Answers Na+, K+, Ca2+
Loss of Ach in AD caused LTD. What are the two things that happen during LTD? - Answers 1.
shrinking of spines
2. loss of synapses
Between A-Beta and Tau, which is extracellular and which is intracellular? - Answers A-Beta:
Extracellular
Tau: Intracellular (microtubules so intracellular)
Why does tau misfold? - Answers Due to hyperphosphorylation
Tau is originally found in what part of neuron? - Answers Axons
, After AD, tau seems to be found in what part of neuron? - Answers Dendrites and soma
Normal function of amyloid beta? - Answers 1. Memory: Promote LTP due to interaction with
Ca2+ and ACh
2. Cell growth: Stem cell level
3. Cell survival: Inhibit apoptosis
What genes are associated with AD? - Answers Presenilin genes
What cholesterol shuttling protein is associated with AD? - Answers APOE4
How are mAbs Donanemab and Lecanemab administered? - Answers Every 4 weeks for 72
weeks
3 steps in neurogenesis? - Answers 1. Proliferation
2. Differentiation
3. Survival
What drives differentiation during neurogenesis? - Answers Transcription factors
Two ways the fate of a neuron is determined: - Answers 1. Intrinsically: Based on the genes and
cellular machinery
2. Extrinsically: Based on the cells around it
2 primary functions of radial glia: - Answers 1. Serves as scaffolds for migrating neurons: Newly
generated neurons migrate along radial glia to reach their target locations in the brain.
2. Neuronal progenitor: Through asymmetric division, radial glia produce immature neurons that
migrate to form cortical layers.
What are the FIRST progenitor cells in the developing nervous system? - Answers Radial Glia
What do radial glia become at the end of development? - Answers Astrocytes or
oligodendrocytes
What are the two differentiation events: - Answers 1. Early development - Delta/Notch acts on
NPCs suppress their cell ability to become a neuron
2. Late development - radial glia will differentiate into glioblasts to become either astrocytes or
oligodendrocytes
What does radial glia differentiate into prior to becoming astrocytes and oligodendrocytes? -
Parkinson's is caused due to decreased dopamine release into? - Answers Basal ganglia
How does degeneration of neurons in PD affect the thalamus? - Answers Too much inhibition in
VA/VL of thalamus
Alpha-synuclein is a what protein? - Answers Cytosolic
What two steps of vesicle fusion does alpha-synuclein affect? - Answers Targeting and Priming
Motor symptoms in PD? - Answers Bradykinesia
Imbalance/ rigidity
Difficulty initiating/ stopping movement
Non motor symptoms in PD? - Answers difficulty swallowing
insomnia
anosmia
Normal mitochondrial function: (prior to interaction of its membrane with alpha-synuclein) -
Answers 1. Mitochondrial fission
2. Transport of key proteins to mitochondria
3. Stability of mitochondrial membrane
Disrupted mitochondrial function after interaction with alpha synuclein? - Answers 1. Cant
generate enough ATP
2. Interferes with electron transport chain
3. Increase in ROS
Disrupted ER function after interaction with alpha synuclein? - Answers 1. Interferes with
synthesis of proteins and lipids
2. Alters Ca2+ dynamics
Where does protein aggregation and misfolding start in the brain in PD? - Answers Deep brain
structures
brain stem
,3 treatments for PD: - Answers 1. L-DOPA: Pre-cursor of dopamine; "on" and "off" treatment
2. Dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT) inhibitor: prevents re-uptake of DA from synapse; more
duration of action of DA
3. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: prevent breakdown of DA; increase availability of DA to be
recycled in vesicles
What parts of brain does deep brain stimulation therapy for PD affect? - Answers 1. Subthalamic
nuclei: restore inhibitory sound
2.. of the VA/VL of thalamus: initiate wanted movement
Longest stage of AD: - Answers Moderate dementia due to AD
Preclinical AD symptoms: - Answers 1. noticeable changes in brain structures
2. appearance of biomarkers
Earliest signs of AD even before MCI: - Answers Anosmia
Contribution of Ach? - Answers 1. Learning and memory
2. Mood
3. Sleep-wake cycles
4. motivation
How does excitatory neurotransmitter act? - Answers 1. Muscarinic receptors: GPCR; M1
2. Nicotinic receptors: Ion channels
What ions pass through the cell in nicotinic receptors of excitatory neurotransmitters? -
Answers Na+, K+, Ca2+
Loss of Ach in AD caused LTD. What are the two things that happen during LTD? - Answers 1.
shrinking of spines
2. loss of synapses
Between A-Beta and Tau, which is extracellular and which is intracellular? - Answers A-Beta:
Extracellular
Tau: Intracellular (microtubules so intracellular)
Why does tau misfold? - Answers Due to hyperphosphorylation
Tau is originally found in what part of neuron? - Answers Axons
, After AD, tau seems to be found in what part of neuron? - Answers Dendrites and soma
Normal function of amyloid beta? - Answers 1. Memory: Promote LTP due to interaction with
Ca2+ and ACh
2. Cell growth: Stem cell level
3. Cell survival: Inhibit apoptosis
What genes are associated with AD? - Answers Presenilin genes
What cholesterol shuttling protein is associated with AD? - Answers APOE4
How are mAbs Donanemab and Lecanemab administered? - Answers Every 4 weeks for 72
weeks
3 steps in neurogenesis? - Answers 1. Proliferation
2. Differentiation
3. Survival
What drives differentiation during neurogenesis? - Answers Transcription factors
Two ways the fate of a neuron is determined: - Answers 1. Intrinsically: Based on the genes and
cellular machinery
2. Extrinsically: Based on the cells around it
2 primary functions of radial glia: - Answers 1. Serves as scaffolds for migrating neurons: Newly
generated neurons migrate along radial glia to reach their target locations in the brain.
2. Neuronal progenitor: Through asymmetric division, radial glia produce immature neurons that
migrate to form cortical layers.
What are the FIRST progenitor cells in the developing nervous system? - Answers Radial Glia
What do radial glia become at the end of development? - Answers Astrocytes or
oligodendrocytes
What are the two differentiation events: - Answers 1. Early development - Delta/Notch acts on
NPCs suppress their cell ability to become a neuron
2. Late development - radial glia will differentiate into glioblasts to become either astrocytes or
oligodendrocytes
What does radial glia differentiate into prior to becoming astrocytes and oligodendrocytes? -
