Question

All of the following statements about the neurotransmitter dopamine are true except one. Which statement is FALSE?

A) Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward and pleasure pathways in the brain.
B) Dysregulation of dopamine is associated with certain mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia.
C) Dopamine is exclusively involved in motor control and has no impact on mood or cognition.
D) Drugs that increase dopamine activity are sometimes used in the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions.

Answer 1

The false statement about dopamine is that it is exclusively involved in motor control and has no impact on mood or cognition. Dopamine also plays critical roles in mood, cognition, and in reward pathways, and imbalances are associated with various psychiatric conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement about the neurotransmitter dopamine that is FALSE is: C) Dopamine is exclusively involved in motor control and has no impact on mood or cognition.

Dopamine is indeed involved in motor control, particularly within the nigrostriatal pathway. However, dopamine also plays critical roles in mood, cognition, reward, and motivation through its actions in various other pathways, such as the mesocorticolimbic system. Dysregulation of dopamine has been associated with several psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and addictive behaviors, where dopamine imbalance can lead to symptoms and maladaptive behaviors. Drugs that increase dopamine activity, such as L-DOPA for Parkinson's disease, aim to restore neurotransmitter balance and can be used to treat various psychiatric conditions.