plumiDrugs and synaptic transmission: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 8.2.3 Drugs and synaptic transmission, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 20 questions on Drugs and synaptic transmission, as a list
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q3(a) (1 mark): Which describes the effect lidocaine has on the membranes of neurones? (1) A it closes sodium ion channels B it increases the number of action potentials C it o
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q3(b) (1 mark): Which describes the effect of MDMA (ecstasy) on neurones? (1) A it damages the myelin sheath of neurones B it decreases the release of neurotransmitters C it de
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q3(c) (3 marks): The photograph shows a puffer fish. (Source: © ImageBROKER on Offset / Shutterstock) Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a toxin found in puffer fish. This toxin works by bin
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q3(d)(i) (1 mark): The LD50 obtained from this graph is 8.4 μg kg–1. Give the meaning of LD50 = 8.4 μg kg–1. Use the information in the graph to support your answer. (1)
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q3(d)(ii) (3 marks): Comment on the toxicity of TTX in mice. (3)
- June 2025, Unit 5, Q4(a) (4 marks): Parkinson’s disease arises from decreased dopamine production in the brain. Explain why L-Dopa, given orally in tablet form, reduces the symptoms of Parkinson’s
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Assess the effects of lidocaine on cell survival. (3)
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q6(b)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest how lidocaine protects heart muscle cells from effects of low oxygen. (2)
- January 2025, Unit 5, Q8(b) (3 marks): Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant of the central nervous system. Explain how caffeine present in an energy drink can affect the cells of the brain (pa
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q4(b) (2 marks): The drug L‑DOPA is used in tablet form to treat Parkinson’s disease. This drug is converted to dopamine by an enzyme found in the digestive system and the brain
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Drugs called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) affect the reabsorption of serotonin at synapses in the brain. This may help to reduce depression.
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q4(b) (4 marks): Scientists used three groups of mice (A, B and C) to investigate the effect of nicotine on the transmission of nerve impulses. • Group A were given nicotine • G
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these drugs would increase nerve transmission? (1) A ecstasy (MDMA) and lidocaine B ecstasy (MDMA) and nicotine C lidocaine and nicotine D lidocaine on
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): Nicotine is a drug found in tobacco products. The effect of changing the concentration of nicotine and adrenaline on the mean heart rate of Daphnia was investig
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q7(c)(i) (2 marks): Determine the effect of MDMA on the serotonin level in the cerebrospinal fluid. (2)
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Predict the concentration of serotonin for a dose of 17.5 mg kg–1 of MDMA. Use the line of best fit. Give your answer in g cm–3. (2) g cm–3
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q7(c)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how the MDMA taken by mouth could affect the level of serotonin in the brain. Use the information in the question to support your answer. (3)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Lidocaine is a drug that is used as a local anaesthetic. Lidocaine works by (1) A blocking the binding of acetylcholine to its receptor B blocking the release o
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Estimate how long it takes the MDMA concentration in the blood to become 0.0 µg dm−3. (1) Answer hours
- October 2020, Unit 5, Q3(b) (6 marks): Taking MDMA causes a person to be very thirsty. This can lead to swelling of the brain, which can be fatal. The table shows some laboratory results for one case
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