Neurobiology

Question 1

what is the function of the appetitive system

Answer 1

reward system

Question 2

what is the main neurotransmitter in the appetitive system

Answer 2

dopamine

Question 3

what is the function of the aversive system

Answer 3

survival in event of threat - fear/pain

Question 4

what is the main neurotransmitter in the aversive system

Answer 4

serotonin

Question 5

depression is an altered sensitivity of the brain systems evaluating _______ - the ____ system

Answer 5

rewards - appetitive system

Question 6

anxiety is an altered sensitivity of the brain systems evaluating ____ - the ____ system

Answer 6

threat - aversive system

Question 7

what neurotransmitters are in excess in depression and what are deficient

Answer 7

deficient - serotonin, dopamine, NA, GABA, BDNF, somatostatin
excess - ACh, Substance P, CRH

Question 8

what axis is upregulated in depression

Answer 8

HPA

Question 9

cortisol is reduced/raised in depression

Answer 9

raised

Question 10

what is the main serotonin receptor involved in depression

Answer 10

5HT1A

Question 11

adverse childhood experiences can cause an over active responsiveness in the NA system - situation that isnt too stressful depletes NA which causes

Answer 11

depression

Question 12

what is the underlying mechanism in anhedonia in depression

Answer 12

hypofunction of dopamine system

Question 13

what is a drug that can deplete stores of monoamines and induce low mood

Answer 13

reserpine

Question 14

of the following monoamines which are excitatory and which are inhibitory

• dopamine
• NA
• serotonin

Answer 14

dopamine - excitatory
NA - excitatory
serotonin - inhibitory

Question 15

what is heritability

Answer 15

the degree of variability in a trait that is caused by genetic differences in a population i.e. how much contribution there is from genetics in the average individual with the disorder

Question 16

patients with schizophrenia have _______ reductions

Answer 16

grey matter volumetric reductions

Question 17

where are consistent reductions in grey matter volume seen

Answer 17

temporal cortex - especially superior temporal gyrus

medial temporal lobe - particularly hippocampus

Question 18

GM reductions is due to what

Answer 18

reduced arborisation not loss of neurones

Question 19

is it possible to diagnose schizoprenia from brain imaging

Answer 19

no

Question 20

what happens to the brain to compensate for space left by atrophied brain

Answer 20

ventricular enlargement

Question 21

what drugs produce a psychotic state

Answer 21

drugs which release dopamine in the brain e.g. amphetamine or D2 receptor agonists e.g. apomorphine

Question 22

what drugs are used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 22

dopamine receptor antagonists - metoclopramide, prochlorperazine, droperidol, promethazine

Question 23

schizophrenia is related to over activity of ____ in the brain

Answer 23

dopamine pathways

Question 24

what are the 2 dopamine receptor families

Answer 24

D1 family - D1 and D5 - most abundant

D2 family - D2 D3 D4

Question 25

__ receptor family stimulates cAMP | __ receptor family inhibits adenylyl cyclase

Answer 25

D1 stimulates cAMP | D2 inhibits adenylyl cyclase

Question 26

bromocriptine is a ___ receptor agonist

Answer 26

D2

Question 27

subcortical dopamine ______ leads to psychosis | mesocortical dopamine ______ leads to negative symptoms

Answer 27

hyperactivity | hypoactivity

Question 28

what are 3 genes that cause brain pathology

Answer 28

neuregulin dysbindin DISC-1

Question 29

what are the bodies 2 responses to fear

Answer 29

freeze | flee

Question 30

when does the body freeze

Answer 30

inescapable or distant threat

Question 31

when does the body flee

Answer 31

nearby threat and escapable

Question 32

reactions to fear arise in the ___ or ___

Answer 32

PAG | ventral tegmental area

Question 33

what is tonic immobility

Answer 33

involuntary state of profound but reversible motor inhibition - occurs especially if in direct contact with the predator

Question 34

as predator closes in, brain activity switches from ___ to _____

Answer 34

ventromedial prefrontal cortex to PAG

Question 35

where is the PAG

Answer 35

midbrain

Question 36

when under threat there is a shift from ____ to _____ activation

Answer 36

cortical to subcortical

Question 37

what are the 3 looping systems in defence activation

Answer 37

midbrain/brainstem origin - PAG and Superior colliculi mesolimbic - dopamine system stimulus response learning system

Question 38

what increases when PAG inputs are fear/rage/panic/grief

Answer 38

increase in dysmorphins and CRF

Question 39

what increases when PAG inputs are care/nurturing/sexual desire

Answer 39

oxytocin, prolactin, u-opioids

Question 40

acute stress leads to dose dependent increase in

Answer 40

catecholamines and cortisol

Question 41

cortisol levels are ____ in acute stress

Answer 41

increased

Question 42

cortisol levels are ___ in PTSD

Answer 42

decreased

Question 43

pre peri and post traumatic resilience factors are related to what

Answer 43

pre - person peri - trauma post - environment

Question 44

processing in the brain is lead either by

Answer 44

mamillian brain or reptillian brain

Question 45

mamillian brain has _____ processing | reptilian brain has ____ processing

Answer 45

mamillian - top down | reptilian - bottom up

Question 46

mamillian brain speaks language of _____ | reptilian brain speaks language of _____

Answer 46

emotion - mamillian | impulse - reptilian