30 MCQs on Neurotransmitters and Their Impact on Mental Health
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with feelings of pleasure and reward?
a) Serotonin
b) Dopamine
c) GABA
d) Acetylcholine
Answer: b) Dopamine
Explanation: Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in the brain’s reward system, playing a critical role in pleasure, motivation, and reward-seeking behaviors.
2. Low levels of which neurotransmitter are linked to depression?
a) Dopamine
b) Glutamate
c) Serotonin
d) Norepinephrine
Answer: c) Serotonin
Explanation: Serotonin deficiency is commonly associated with mood disorders like depression. It regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.
3. Which neurotransmitter inhibits overexcitation in the brain and promotes calmness?
a) GABA
b) Glutamate
c) Dopamine
d) Serotonin
Answer: a) GABA
Explanation: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, reducing neural activity and fostering relaxation.
4. Norepinephrine is primarily involved in which function?
a) Reward processing
b) Fight-or-flight response
c) Muscle movement
d) Vision
Answer: b) Fight-or-flight response
Explanation: Norepinephrine activates the body’s stress response, increasing alertness and preparing the body for action.
5. Excess dopamine in certain brain pathways is linked to which condition?
a) Depression
b) Schizophrenia
c) Alzheimer’s disease
d) Anxiety
Answer: b) Schizophrenia
Explanation: Hyperactivity of dopamine in specific brain areas is associated with symptoms like hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia.
6. What role does acetylcholine play in the brain?
a) Enhances memory and learning
b) Regulates sleep cycles
c) Reduces anxiety
d) Controls appetite
Answer: a) Enhances memory and learning
Explanation: Acetylcholine is vital for cognitive functions, including memory formation and attention.
7. Glutamate is primarily known as the brain’s:
a) Inhibitory neurotransmitter
b) Excitatory neurotransmitter
c) Stress hormone
d) Mood stabilizer
Answer: b) Excitatory neurotransmitter
Explanation: Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter, essential for synaptic plasticity and learning.
8. A lack of dopamine in the brain is most closely associated with which disorder?
a) Parkinson’s disease
b) Bipolar disorder
c) Anxiety disorder
d) ADHD
Answer: a) Parkinson’s disease
Explanation: Dopamine deficiency in the motor control regions of the brain leads to symptoms like tremors and rigidity in Parkinson’s disease.
9. Which neurotransmitter is known as the “stress hormone”?
a) Serotonin
b) Cortisol
c) Norepinephrine
d) Glutamate
Answer: c) Norepinephrine
Explanation: Norepinephrine is released during stress to enhance alertness and prepare the body for immediate action.
10. Imbalances in which neurotransmitter are implicated in anxiety disorders?
a) GABA
b) Dopamine
c) Serotonin
d) Acetylcholine
Answer: a) GABA
Explanation: Low levels of GABA can lead to increased neural excitability, contributing to anxiety symptoms.
11. Which neurotransmitter is central to addiction?
a) Glutamate
b) Dopamine
c) Norepinephrine
d) Serotonin
Answer: b) Dopamine
Explanation: Addictive substances often hijack the brain’s reward system, increasing dopamine levels and reinforcing the behavior.
12. What is the primary function of serotonin?
a) Cognitive processing
b) Emotional regulation
c) Motor control
d) Vision enhancement
Answer: b) Emotional regulation
Explanation: Serotonin plays a significant role in regulating mood, emotions, and other functions like sleep and appetite.
13. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is linked to Alzheimer’s disease?
a) GABA
b) Acetylcholine
c) Serotonin
d) Dopamine
Answer: b) Acetylcholine
Explanation: Reduced acetylcholine levels are associated with memory impairment and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
14. Glutamate excitotoxicity can result in:
a) Neurodegeneration
b) Anxiety relief
c) Enhanced mood stability
d) Increased memory recall
Answer: a) Neurodegeneration
Explanation: Excessive glutamate activity can lead to neuronal damage, contributing to conditions like ALS and stroke.
15. Which neurotransmitter is targeted by SSRIs to treat depression?
a) Dopamine
b) GABA
c) Serotonin
d) Norepinephrine
Answer: c) Serotonin
Explanation: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase serotonin levels in the synaptic cleft, alleviating depressive symptoms.
16. Reduced norepinephrine activity can result in:
a) Increased aggression
b) Depressed mood and fatigue
c) Hyperactivity
d) Enhanced focus
Answer: b) Depressed mood and fatigue
Explanation: Norepinephrine influences energy and alertness; its deficiency can lead to lethargy and depressive symptoms.
17. Which neurotransmitter is associated with sleep and wakefulness?
a) Acetylcholine
b) Dopamine
c) Melatonin
d) Serotonin
Answer: d) Serotonin
Explanation: Serotonin plays a role in regulating sleep patterns, particularly through its conversion to melatonin.
18. Endorphins are best known for:
a) Inducing pain
b) Enhancing memory
c) Reducing pain and promoting pleasure
d) Regulating appetite
Answer: c) Reducing pain and promoting pleasure
Explanation: Endorphins act as natural painkillers and mood elevators by binding to opioid receptors in the brain.
19. ADHD is linked to dysregulation in which neurotransmitter?
a) Glutamate
b) Dopamine
c) Serotonin
d) Acetylcholine
Answer: b) Dopamine
Explanation: ADHD involves dysregulation in dopamine pathways, affecting attention and impulse control.
20. The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain is:
a) GABA
b) Acetylcholine
c) Glutamate
d) Serotonin
Answer: c) Glutamate
Explanation: Glutamate facilitates synaptic transmission and is crucial for learning and memory.
21. Which neurotransmitter is closely linked to fear and anxiety?
a) Dopamine
b) Norepinephrine
c) GABA
d) Glutamate
Answer: c) GABA
Explanation: GABA reduces neural excitability and counteracts the hyperactivity seen in anxiety and fear responses.
22. The “monoamine hypothesis” of depression primarily involves:
a) Acetylcholine and GABA
b) Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
c) Glutamate and endorphins
d) Serotonin and melatonin
Answer: b) Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
Explanation: The hypothesis suggests that imbalances in these monoamines contribute to depressive symptoms.
23. Which neurotransmitter is essential for muscle contraction?
a) Acetylcholine
b) GABA
c) Serotonin
d) Glutamate
Answer: a) Acetylcholine
Explanation: Acetylcholine transmits signals from nerves to muscles, initiating contractions.
24. Excessive dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway is associated with:
a) Hallucinations and delusions
b) Reduced appetite
c) Enhanced memory
d) Muscle tremors
Answer: a) Hallucinations and delusions
Explanation: Overactivity in this pathway is linked to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
25. Which neurotransmitter regulates the stress response and blood pressure?
a) Dopamine
b) GABA
c) Norepinephrine
d) Serotonin
Answer: c) Norepinephrine
Explanation: Norepinephrine acts as a hormone and neurotransmitter to modulate the body\u2019s stress responses.
