A nurse is caring for a patient who is addicted to alcohol and ...

[ts19998]

A nurse is caring for a patient who is addicted to alcohol and drugs and is discussing the pathway of the brain responsible for this behavior.
 
  The nurse should know that the pathway of the brain thought to be involved in pleasurable sensations and the euphoria resulting from use of drugs is called the:
  A) Tuberinfundibular dopamine pathway
  B) Nigrostriatal dopamine pathway
  C) Mesocortical dopamine pathway
  D) Mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Question 2

A patient has researched the role of neurotransmitters in her mental illness. What is the role of neurotransmitters?
 
  A) Excite the receptor cell located inside the synaptic cleft.
  B) Inhibit the receptor cell found inside of glial cells.
  C) Communicate information within the receptor cell.
  D) Communicate information from one cell or cell group to another.

[alexisweber49]

Answer to Question 1

Ans: D
Feedback:
The mesolimbic pathway is thought to be involved in pleasurable sensations and euphoria resulting from substance abuse. Deficiencies in the nigrostriatal pathway result in movement disorders (eg, Parkinson's disease) and contribute to certain side effects of antipsychotic medications. The mesocortical pathway is thought to mediate both the negative and cognitive symptoms of psychosis. The tuberoinfundibular pathway regulates prolactin secretion.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: D
Feedback:
Neurotransmitters are referred to as first messengers, which refers to molecules that communicate information or change from one cell or cell group to another, cause an immediate effect, and are typically found in circuitry that produces behavior. Glial cells are not involved in neurotransmission and receptor cells do not lie within the synapse.