Question 1

Imaging studies in individuals with anxiety disorders demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

Imaging studies in individuals with anxiety disorders often show increased activation in the amygdala, which is involved in processing emotions such as fear and anxiety.

Question 2

Individuals with depression have elevated levels of:

Accepted Answer

Individuals with depression often have elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, which is associated with the body's response to stress.

Question 3

Individuals with schizophrenia tend to show the largest degree of cortical atrophy in the:

Accepted Answer

Individuals with schizophrenia often exhibit significant cortical atrophy in both the temporal and frontal cortices, which are associated with cognitive and emotional processing deficits.

Question 4

Antidepressant drugs increase synaptic levels of:

Accepted Answer

Antidepressant drugs, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, primarily work by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft, enhancing mood and alleviating symptoms of depression.

Question 5

Families with a history of schizophrenia are also at elevated risk for:

Accepted Answer

Families with a history of schizophrenia are at an elevated risk for major depression due to shared genetic and environmental factors that contribute to both conditions.

Question 6

The concordance rate for schizophrenia in identical twins is:

Accepted Answer

The concordance rate for schizophrenia in identical twins is approximately 50%, indicating a significant genetic component but also the influence of environmental factors.

Question 7

Fluoxetine (Prozac):

Accepted Answer

Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is known to induce neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which is associated with its antidepressant effects.

Question 8

Aside from drugs, one of the best treatments for depression is:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely recognized and effective non-drug treatment for depression, focusing on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of the brain correlates of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Smaller dendritic fields in the nucleus accumbens are not typically associated with schizophrenia. The other options are well-documented brain correlates of the disorder.

Question 10

The MOST common cause of brain injury in people under 40 is:

Accepted Answer

Traumatic brain injury is the most common cause of brain injury in people under 40, often resulting from accidents, falls, or sports injuries.

Question 11

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are thought to reduce depression by:

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are believed to help alleviate depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which can promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus, an area associated with mood regulation.

Question 12

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is influenced by:

Accepted Answer

The HPA axis is influenced by chronic stress, cortisol levels, and stressful early life events, making all the options correct.

Question 13

Studies investigating treatments for anxiety have found that _____ tend(s) to be effective in reducing anxiety.

Accepted Answer

Benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and cognitive-behavioral therapy are all effective treatments for reducing anxiety, making all the options correct.

Question 14

What is the MOST likely diagnosis of people who have periods of excessive euphoria and uncontrollable hyperactivity alternating with periods of feeling worthless and guilt-ridden, with frequent thoughts of suicide?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are characteristic of bipolar disorder, which involves alternating episodes of mania (euphoria and hyperactivity) and depression (feelings of worthlessness and suicidal thoughts).

Question 15

Imaging studies of people with depressive disorders show increased baseline activity in the:

Accepted Answer

Increased baseline activity in the cingulate cortex and amygdala has been associated with depressive disorders, reflecting their roles in emotion regulation and processing.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of major depression?

Accepted Answer

Hallucinations are not typically a symptom of major depression; they are more associated with psychotic disorders.

Question 17

Adult-onset schizophrenia has been linked to:

Accepted Answer

Adult-onset schizophrenia has been associated with abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and alterations in neuronal structure, making all the options correct.

Question 18

When a person is stressed, the hypothalamus secretes _____, which eventually results in the release of cortisol.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a person is stressed, the hypothalamus...

Question 19

Which of the following neurotransmitter systems is (are) impaired in individuals with schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is associated with dysregulation in multiple neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine, glutamate, and GABA.

Question 20

Which of the following neurotransmitters was FIRST linked with schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The dopamine hypothesis was one of the earliest theories linking dopamine dysregulation to the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Quiz 16: What Happens When the Brain Misbehaves