Let’s go step by step through the worksheet.
The worksheet is called “Mouse Party Worksheet” and has three rows: one for each mouse — Marcy, Murray, and Madison. Each row has four columns:
1.
Mouse – shows a picture of the mouse (we don’t need to describe it).
2.
Neurotransmitter? – asks which neurotransmitter is involved.
3.
What does this drug do? – describes what happens when the drug affects that neurotransmitter.
4.
Sketch – we’ll ignore since we’re not drawing.
We are told in column 3 what effect the drug has on behavior or brain activity, and from that, we must figure out which neurotransmitter is being affected.
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Step 1: Understand common neurotransmitters and their effects
Here are some key ones you might see in middle/high school biology:
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Dopamine → pleasure, reward, motivation. Drugs that increase dopamine make you feel good or addicted.
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Serotonin → mood, sleep, appetite. Low serotonin = depression; drugs like Prozac boost it.
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GABA → calms the brain. Alcohol and benzodiazepines enhance GABA → relaxation, sedation.
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Glutamate → excites the brain. Too much can cause seizures or anxiety.
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Acetylcholine → learning, memory, muscle movement. Nicotine mimics it.
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Norepinephrine → alertness, arousal, fight-or-flight. Stimulants like caffeine affect this.
Now let’s look at each mouse.
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Row 1: Marcy
Column 3 says:
> “Marcy feels relaxed and less anxious after taking the drug. She also sleeps more easily.”
This sounds like the drug is calming her down → enhancing an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
→ That points to
GABA.
GABA slows down brain activity → reduces anxiety, helps with sleep.
✔ So Marcy’s neurotransmitter:
GABA
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Row 2: Murray
Column 3 says:
> “Murray feels extremely happy and energetic after taking the drug. He wants to keep taking it because it feels so good.”
Feeling happy + wanting more = reward pathway → dopamine!
Drugs like cocaine or amphetamines boost dopamine → euphoria and addiction.
✔ So Murray’s neurotransmitter:
Dopamine
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Row 3: Madison
Column 3 says:
> “Madison becomes very focused and alert after taking the drug. Her heart rate increases slightly, and she stays awake longer.”
Alertness, focus, increased heart rate, staying awake → stimulant effect.
That’s often linked to
norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline) — part of the “fight or flight” system.
Caffeine, ADHD meds, etc., work on norepinephrine (and sometimes dopamine too, but here the description emphasizes alertness and physical arousal).
✔ So Madison’s neurotransmitter:
Norepinephrine
*(Note: Some might say dopamine again, but the emphasis on alertness, heart rate, and wakefulness fits norepinephrine better. Dopamine is more about pleasure/reward — which was Murray’s case.)*
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Double-check:
- Marcy: relaxed, sleepy → GABA ✔️
- Murray: happy, addictive feeling → Dopamine ✔️
- Madison: alert, focused, awake → Norepinephrine ✔️
All match standard textbook associations.
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Final Answer:
Marcy: GABA
Murray: Dopamine
Madison: Norepinephrine
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of mouse party worksheet.
