CARN Neurobiology of Addiction 2

Question 1

Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for the reinforcing effects of addictive substances in the mesolimbic pathway?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

GABA

Answer

Norepinephrine

Question 2

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) sends dopaminergic projections to which structure most critically involved in drug reward?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus accumbens

Answer

Amygdala

Answer

Hippocampus

Answer

Prefrontal cortex

Question 3

Neuroadaptation to chronic opioid use leads to upregulation of which intracellular signaling pathway, contributing to tolerance?

Accepted Answer

PKA/cAMP pathway

Answer

mTOR pathway

Answer

JAK-STAT pathway

Answer

PI3K/Akt pathway

Question 4

Which brain region is most associated with drug-cue conditioned responses and craving triggered by environmental stimuli?

Accepted Answer

Amygdala

Answer

Cerebellum

Answer

Basal ganglia

Answer

Thalamus

Question 5

Delta FosB accumulation in the nucleus accumbens after repeated drug exposure is significant because it:

Accepted Answer

Acts as a long-lasting transcription factor increasing addiction vulnerability

Answer

Causes immediate sedation

Answer

Blocks dopamine synthesis

Answer

Reverses neuroplasticity changes

Question 6

The endogenous opioid system's role in addiction is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Modulating pain, reward, and stress responses through mu, kappa, and delta receptors

Answer

Primarily regulating cardiovascular responses to drugs

Answer

Exclusively mediating anxiolytic effects

Answer

Controlling only withdrawal symptoms without affecting reward

Question 7

Allostasis in addiction refers to:

Accepted Answer

Maintaining stability through change, often resulting in a new, dysregulated set point

Answer

The brain's return to its pre-addiction baseline after abstinence

Answer

The acute euphoric response to drug administration

Answer

Synaptic pruning caused by chronic substance use