Question

These questions areregarding Psychpharmacology by Jerrold Meyer and Linda Quenzer

29. Which of the following are natural stimulants found in plants?

a. Cathinone

b. Ephedrine

c. MDMA

d. Both a and b, but not c

e. All of the above

30. Which of the following brain regions/structures are parts of the classic reward/reinforcement circuit/pathway?

a. Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

b. Nucleus accumbens (NAc)

c. Hippocampus

d. Both a and b, but not c

e. All of the above 31.

A drug taken for pleasurable subjective effects (reward) is an example of ________ reinforcement, while a drug taken to relieve withdrawal symptoms is an example of ________ reinforcement.

a. positive/negative

b. negative/positive

c. positive/punishment

d. punishment/negative

e. None of the above

32. Which of the following terms describes the combined administration of heroin and amphetamines?

a. Crystal meth

b. Ice

c. Speedball

d. Rock

e. None of the above

Answer 1

29. Which of the following are natural stimulants found in plants?

Answer is d.

Cathinone (also known as benzoylethanamine, or β-keto-amphetamine) is a monoamine alkaloid found in the shrub Catha edulis (khat).
Ephedrine is a compound that occurs naturally in plants of the genus Ephedra. It can be synthesised, but is usually obtained from the plant Ephedra sinica.
MDMA is the popular name for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Ecstasy, a highly popular version of MDMA is an illegal drug obtained from a non-natural substance. It is a psychoactive drug consumed for its euphoric effects.

30 :- Which of the following brain regions/structures are parts of the classic reward / reinforcement circuit/pathway?

Answer is d.

VTA – Group of neurons located close to mid-brain. It is widely implicated in the drug and natural reward circuitry of the brain.
Nucleus accumbens – is the major component of the ventral striatum, and is situated between the caudate and putamen. Dopamine neurons project from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens as part of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway and this pathway is activated in association with rewards.
Hippocampus – It belongs to the limbic system and plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory; and it enables in navigation.

31:- A drug taken for pleasurable subjective effects (reward) is an example of ________ reinforcement, while a drug taken to relieve withdrawal symptoms is an example of ________ reinforcement.

Answer is a.

Positive reinforcement occurs when a desirable event or stimulus is presented as a consequence of behaviour and the behaviour increases. Negative reinforcement occurs when the rate of behaviour increases because an aversive event or stimulus is removed or prevented from happening.

32 :- Which of the following terms describes the combined administration of heroin and amphetamines?

Answer is e.

Crystal meth – is the short form of crystal methamphetamine. It is one form of the drug – methamphetamine.
Ice – It is the purest and most potent form of methamphetamine.
Speedball – It is a mix of cocaine with heroine or morphine.
Rock – It is produced by processing cocaine with ammonia or sodium-bicarbonate and water and heated to remove the hydrochloride.