EPPP- Biology Review Practice Exam
Questions Correctly Answered.
Ticks associated with Tourettes are associated with which neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia? -
CORRECT ANSWER Dopamine
The symptoms of OCD are most likely to be alleviated by a drug that impacts what neurotransmitter
system? - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonergic system
Reticular activating system (RAS) - CORRECT ANSWER Mediates consciousness, arousal, wakefulness,
and screens sensory information especially during sleep and arouses the brain when important info
must be processed. Damage to this area can cause hypersomnia, comma, or inattention.
What is the function of the Substantia Nigra in the brain? What part of the brain is it associated with? -
CORRECT ANSWER Involved with the production of dopamine. Plays an important role in reward and
movement. Is located in the basal ganglia.
What is the function of the medulla oblongata? What part of the brain is it in? - CORRECT ANSWER
Controls breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and other important reflexes like swallowing and
breathing. Damage to this part of the brain can be fatal. Located in brain stem.
What is the primary function of the frontal lobes in the brain? What would happen if the frontal lobe
was damaged? - CORRECT ANSWER Primary functions include attention, cognitions, reason, problem
solving, and voluntary movement. Depending on where the damage is, you can see personality changes,
difficulty concentrating or planning, and impulsivity.
What parts of the brain are included in the frontal lobes? - CORRECT ANSWER primary motor cortex,
premotor cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and prefrontal cortex
What is the function of the primary motor cortex? What would happen if this part of the brain was
damaged? Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER Initiation of motor movements and
isolated muscle groups, requisite accuracy of motor control (hands, fingers, lips, etc). Damage to this
,area would create deficits in motor learning. Severe damage would produce hemiparesis (paralysis).
Located in the frontal lobes.
What is the function of the premotor cortex? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER The functions are related to initiation and
executions of limb movements. Mirror neurons here have been associated with imitation and empathy.
Damage could cause apraxia (inability to perform learned/familiar movements on command even if the
command is understood and there is a willingness to perform the movement), deficits in fine motor
control. Located in the frontal lobes.
What is the function of the orbitofrontal and prefrontal regions of the brain? What would happen if this
part of the brain was damaged? Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER Associated with
higher-level cognitive functions also known as the executive functions which includes reasoning,
planning, and judgment. Damage/dysfunction in this region has been associated with ADHD and
schizophrenia. Inhibitory control (impulse control) is also most often associated with this reason.
Located in the frontal lobe.
What is the function of the Broca's area? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER Functions to provide fluent production of oral and
written speech, as well as grammar and comprehension of syntax. Damage to this area causes Broca's
aphasia which is a language disorder where a person can't produce language/can't speak fluently,
speech is effortful/choppy. Located in the frontal lobes.
What is the function of the temporal lobes? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER Function: perception of sound, processing sound,
comprehension of language. Lesions in this area of the brain can cause Wernicke's aphasia which is the
inability to produce meaningful language as well as inability to comprehend language (would sound like
word salad).
What is the function of the parietal lobes? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER Function: process visual information, processes
sensory information like touch, pressure, pain, etc. Damage to this area can result in neglect syndromes
such has hemispatial neglect which is characterized by the inability to attend to features of the
environment in the space contralateral to the lesion site.
What is the function of the occipital lobes? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located in the brain? - CORRECT ANSWER Function: Primary visual processing, seeing color
, and movement. Lesions in this area can cause cortical blindness or disturbances in color perception and
inability to detect orientation or movement.
What is the function of the hippocampus? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located? - CORRECT ANSWER Function: memory, long term memory. Damage to this area
would create significant memory impairment. Located in the limbic system.
What is the function of the amygdala? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged?
Where is it located? - CORRECT ANSWER Function: processes olfactory (smell) stimuli, processes
emotions, part of "fight or flight" response. Damage in this area you would not remember emotional
events, impair the processing of emotion expression, and comprise social development and functioning.
Located in the limbic system.
What is the function of the thalamus? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged? -
CORRECT ANSWER Function: attention and perception, motor signals, regulates consciousness and
alertness. Thalamus acts as a relay station for all the senses except smell. If this area were damaged
you'd be in a comma.
What is the function of the basal ganglia? What would happen if this part of the brain was damaged? -
CORRECT ANSWER Function: motor output, emotions, cognitions, and eye movements, coordination,
rhythm. If this area were damaged you would see slow movements (bradykinesia) or excessive muscle
rigidity. Movement disorders like Parkinson's and Huntington's are a result from abnormal basal ganglia
activity. Basal ganglia is associated with GABA
What is the brain stem comprised of? What is the function of the brain stem? What would happen if this
part of the brain was damaged? - CORRECT ANSWER Comprised of the medulla, pons, and midbrain, and
reticular activating system (RAS). Function: control and regulation of autonomic functions and
maintaining the body's homeostasis, including breathing, heart rate, temperature regulation, and blood
pressure. RAS plays an important role in alertness, consciousness, and pain, and respiratory and
cardiovascular systems. Damage to these areas would cause you to die.
What is cerebellum comprised of? What is the function of the brain stem? What would happen if this
part of the brain was damaged? - CORRECT ANSWER Function: regulation of movement, including
automatic and rhythmic movements, coordination of limbs, and postural control. Associated with
learning and attention. Damage tot his area can create serious motor impairments (multiple sclerosis)
and wide-based stance and gait.
