Lesson 3.1.2

3.1.2 Brain structure and aggression Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

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Lesson 3.1.2, Brain structure and aggression: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Psychology (9PS0), Unit 3: Biological psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the effect of amphetamine on neurotransmission?

    • It blocks all neurotransmitter release at every synapse, so neurons cannot send any signal to each other
    • It increases the release of dopamine and noradrenaline, which increases arousal and alertness
    • It converts serotonin into dopamine in the synapse, so the two neurotransmitters are interchanged
    • It stops the myelin sheath from forming, so impulses cannot travel along the axon of neurons at all

  2. How does cocaine affect neurotransmission?

    • It destroys the myelin sheath, so impulses can no longer travel along the axon of the neuron at all
    • It converts GABA into glutamate, so the inhibitory signal is changed into an excitatory signal in the brain
    • It increases the reuptake of dopamine, so dopamine is removed from the cleft much more quickly than usual
    • It blocks the reuptake of dopamine, so dopamine stays in the synaptic cleft for longer

  3. What is the main effect of alcohol on neurotransmission?

    • It blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which increases brain activity and makes neurons fire faster
    • It enhances the effect of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which slows brain activity
    • It increases the release of glutamate, which is inhibitory and reduces the firing of neurons in the brain
    • It destroys all dopamine receptors in the brain, so that no reward signal can be sent at any point

  4. How does ecstasy (MDMA) affect serotonin?

    • It converts dopamine into serotonin in the terminal button, so the mood effects are created by that conversion
    • It has no effect on serotonin, since ecstasy works only through the release of adrenaline in the blood
    • It destroys serotonin in the synapse, so no serotonin is available to bind to receptors on the next neuron
    • It increases the release of serotonin and blocks its reuptake, so more serotonin is present in the synapse

  5. Which drug is most likely to produce a rush of dopamine in reward pathways?

    • Nicotine, which mainly stimulates acetylcholine receptors and so increases heart rate in most users
    • Cocaine, which blocks dopamine reuptake and so prolongs dopamine's effect
    • Alcohol, which mainly enhances GABA activity and so slows the activity of neurons in the brain
    • Caffeine, which mainly blocks adenosine receptors and so reduces tiredness without a direct dopamine effect

  6. A drug that enhances GABA activity would most likely produce which effect?

    • Increased serotonin release, leading to elevated mood and increased energy in the user of the drug
    • Slowed neural activity, leading to sedation and reduced anxiety
    • Increased dopamine release, leading to a strong sense of reward and pleasure in the user of the drug
    • Increased neural activity, leading to stimulation, alertness and faster reactions in most users

  7. Why might drugs that affect neurotransmission produce changes in behaviour?

    • Because they alter the hormones in the blood, which have no effect on neurons in the brain at all
    • Because they alter the size of the brain, which changes the speed of all behaviour in the body
    • Because they alter the genetic code of neurons, which changes their behaviour permanently in every case
    • Because they alter the signals between neurons, which changes the activity of brain networks

  8. Which of these describes a drug that increases serotonin activity in the synapse?

    • A drug that breaks down the myelin sheath, so serotonin cannot travel along the axon of any neuron
    • A drug that increases serotonin release or blocks its reuptake, such as ecstasy
    • A drug that enhances GABA and slows the brain, with no effect on serotonin at any stage of its action
    • A drug that blocks serotonin receptors completely, so no serotonin can bind to them at any synapse

  9. Which evaluation point is most relevant to research on the effects of recreational drugs?

    • Ethical issues arise, since drugs cannot be given to participants for research in many countries
    • Research on drugs can be done only with animals, so the effects on humans are never studied in any way
    • Research on drugs is always fully ethical, since participants are never harmed by any recreational drug
    • Research on drugs is always unethical, so no evidence about the effects of drugs has ever been collected at all

  10. A user of cocaine shows increased activity in reward pathways. Which explanation is most accurate?

    • Dopamine is removed quickly, so receptors are stimulated for a shorter time by the dopamine released
    • Dopamine remains in the synapse longer, so receptors are stimulated for longer by the dopamine
    • Dopamine is destroyed by the myelin sheath, so the reward signal is stopped as soon as it is released
    • Dopamine is converted into GABA, so the inhibitory effect of the reward signal is increased in the brain

  11. Which of these is a limitation of research on the effects of drugs on the brain?

    • Drug effects are always identical in every person, so findings always apply to every individual perfectly
    • Drug effects can be measured only by asking users what they feel, so the data are always fully objective
    • Drug effects are always visible on a standard blood test, so no measurement error can affect the data at all
    • Drug effects vary between individuals, so findings may not apply to everyone who uses the drug

  12. What is the role of the synapse in the effects of recreational drugs?

    • Drugs act only on the cell body, which has no role in synapses or in transmitter release at any point
    • Drugs act only on the bloodstream, which has no effect on the synapse or on neurotransmitter activity
    • Drugs act only on the myelin sheath, which has no link to neurotransmitter release or reuptake at all
    • Drugs act at the synapse to change neurotransmitter release, reuptake or receptor binding

  13. Which statement about dopamine and reward is most accurate?

    • Dopamine is linked to reward and motivation, and drugs that increase it can strengthen reward-related behaviour
    • Dopamine is linked only to sleep, and drugs that increase it have no effect on reward-related behaviour at all
    • Dopamine is linked only to the cell body, and drugs that increase it have no effect on any synapse at all
    • Dopamine is linked only to the myelin sheath, and drugs that increase it have no effect on the brain at all

  14. Which of these best describes how a neurotransmitter's effect is ended after it acts on a receptor?

    • It is removed from the cleft by reuptake or enzymatic breakdown, which ends the signal
    • It is stored in the cell body for later use, so the signal is paused until the neuron fires again
    • It is converted into a hormone in the myelin sheath, so the signal continues in the bloodstream
    • It remains bound to the receptor forever, so the signal never ends once it has started in the neuron

  15. Which drug is most likely to produce a sedative effect by enhancing an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

    • Amphetamine, which increases the release of dopamine and noradrenaline and so speeds up neural activity
    • Alcohol, which enhances GABA activity and so slows neural activity
    • Cocaine, which blocks dopamine reuptake and so prolongs the excitatory effect of dopamine in reward pathways
    • Ecstasy, which increases serotonin release and blocks its reuptake, increasing serotonin activity in the synapse

  16. A drug is found to increase noradrenaline release in the synapse. Which effect would be most expected?

    • Increased sleepiness, since noradrenaline blocks the release of dopamine from neurons in the reward pathways
    • No change in arousal, since noradrenaline has no effect on the activity of neurons in the brain at any time
    • Decreased arousal and deeper sleep, as noradrenaline is a sedative that slows neurons across the brain
    • Increased arousal and alertness, as noradrenaline increases the activity of many neurons in the brain

  17. Which of these is the best reason that recreational drugs are studied with caution in research?

    • Because drugs have no effect on the brain, so research on them is pointless and should not be carried out at all
    • Because drugs always have identical effects on all people, so participants must be tested with the same drug
    • Because drugs only affect the myelin sheath, which can be studied only with a microscope in the laboratory
    • Because giving drugs to participants raises ethical concerns about harm, so research often relies on other evidence

  18. A user of ecstasy reports low mood after the effects wear off. Which explanation is most consistent with serotonin's role?

    • Serotonin is converted into GABA after the drug wears off, so the low mood is caused by sedation from GABA
    • Serotonin levels may be depleted after heavy release, so mood can fall once the drug's effect ends
    • Serotonin is absorbed into the myelin sheath, so the low mood is caused by slower conduction along the axon
    • Serotonin levels are increased for days afterwards, so the low mood is caused by excess serotonin in the blood

  19. Which of these describes a difference between an agonist and an antagonist drug at a receptor?

    • An agonist removes the myelin sheath, while an antagonist removes the terminal buttons from the neuron in the brain
    • An agonist destroys the receptor permanently, while an antagonist only changes the colour of the neuron's membrane
    • An agonist blocks the receptor completely, while an antagonist activates the receptor more than the transmitter does
    • An agonist activates the receptor like the natural transmitter, while an antagonist blocks it from being activated

  20. Which statement about drug effects on synapses is most accurate?

    • A drug can change the release, reuptake or breakdown of a neurotransmitter, or its binding to receptors
    • A drug can only change the speed of the bloodstream, which has no effect on any synapse in the body at any stage
    • A drug can only change the size of the cell body, which has no effect on neurotransmitter release at all
    • A drug can only change the colour of the myelin sheath, which has no effect on neurotransmission in the brain

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