ADM Neurobiology of Addiction 3

Question 1

Accumulation of delta FosB (ΔFosB) in the nucleus accumbens with repeated drug exposure is significant because it:

Accepted Answer

Represents a stable molecular switch contributing to long-lasting addiction-related neuroplasticity

Answer

Is a short-lived marker that resolves within days of abstinence

Answer

Directly inhibits dopamine release

Answer

Predicts rapid recovery from addiction

Question 2

Koob and Volkow's 'three-stage cycle of addiction' includes which of the following stages?

Accepted Answer

Intoxication/binge, withdrawal/negative affect, preoccupation/anticipation (craving)

Answer

Experimentation, habituation, and physical dependence only

Answer

Tolerance, sensitization, and cross-sensitization

Answer

Acquisition, maintenance, and extinction

Question 3

Behavioral sensitization (reverse tolerance) — where repeated drug exposure produces increasingly exaggerated responses — is most prominently associated with which system?

Accepted Answer

The mesolimbic dopamine system and stimulant drugs

Answer

The mu-opioid receptor system

Answer

The GABA-A receptor system

Answer

The cannabinoid CB1 receptor system

Question 4

Alcohol's acute anxiolytic and sedative effects are primarily mediated through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Blocking NMDA glutamate receptors and potentiating GABA-A receptor function

Answer

Agonism at mu-opioid receptors

Answer

Blocking dopamine reuptake

Answer

Antagonism at 5-HT3 serotonin receptors

Question 5

The insula cortex plays which specific role in addiction that makes it a therapeutic target?

Accepted Answer

Processing interoceptive signals (body states) that drive drug urges and conscious craving

Answer

Primary site of dopamine synthesis

Answer

Regulating sleep-wake cycles disrupted by substance use

Answer

Encoding explicit memories of drug use episodes

Question 6

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) following long-term opioid use is primarily mediated by:

Accepted Answer

NMDA receptor sensitization and increased dynorphin/kappa-opioid signaling

Answer

Mu-opioid receptor upregulation

Answer

Reduced substance P release in the spinal cord

Answer

Enhanced endorphin synthesis

Question 7

The ALDH2*2 variant (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 deficiency), common in East Asian populations, affects alcohol use disorder risk primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Causing accumulation of acetaldehyde, producing flushing and aversion that is protective against AUD

Answer

Enhancing alcohol absorption, increasing intoxication risk

Answer

Increasing dopamine release in response to alcohol

Answer

Reducing GABA sensitivity to alcohol