AP PSYCHOLOGY

BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR

NEUROTRANSMISSION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The main neurotransmitter that is depleted in Parkinson’s disease is
A
acetylcholine.
B
adrenaline.
C
serotonin.
D
dopamine.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused mainly by lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in movement, motivation, memory, and other functions; its level is decreased in PD brain as a result of dopaminergic cell death.

Detailed explanation-2: -Scientists believe a lack of dopamine causes Parkinson’s disease. That deficit, they say, comes from a disorder of nerve cells in the part of the brain that produces the chemical.

Detailed explanation-3: -Parkinson’s disease is a common neurological disorder characterized by degeneration of the dopaminergic midbrain. This pathological insult to the brainstem results in a severe dopamine depletion throughout ascending neural pathways innervating the basal ganglia, thalamus and cortex (Braak et al., 2004).

Detailed explanation-4: -Parkinson’s disease symptoms mainly result from low or falling levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. It happens when cells that produce dopamine die in the brain. Dopamine plays a role in sending messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination.

Detailed explanation-5: -In PD the nerve cells that produce dopamine are dying. The PD symptoms of tremor and stiffness occur when the nerve cells fire and there isn’t enough dopamine to transmit messages. High levels of glutamate, another neurotransmitter, also appear in PD as the body tries to compensate for the lack of dopamine.

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