EPPP Sample Questions –
Neuropsychology Written Exam.
A.
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) or CT scan, take a
series of images at different levels of the brain giving information and a direct visualization of structures
and features. The MRI does this with magnetic fields; the CAT scan uses x-rays. In general, the MRI
provides more detail than the CAT scan and can be used in examining the central nervous system, as
well as, used to identify tumors, strokes, degenerative diseases, inflammation, infection, and other
abnormalities in organs and other soft tissue of the body. Huntington's disease is due to degeneration in
several areas of the brain including the basal ganglia and that damage can often be detected by an MRI
or other brain imaging technique even before the person exhibits symptoms. - CORRECT ANSWER MRI
or other brain imaging techniques can detect Huntington's brain degeneration:
A before the person exhibits symptoms
B. as the person begins to exhibit symptoms
C. in late stage disease development
D. with limited accuracy regardless of stage of disease development
B.
The area of the brain referred to as the "midbrain" is also known as the mesencephalon and is divided
into two regions: the tectum and the tegmentum. The substantia nigra (a.) is located in the tegmentum
and is part of the brain's sensorimotor system. The inferior colliculus (c.) is part of the tectum and is
involved in audition. The superior colliculus (d.) is also part of the tectum and mediates vision. The
hypothalamus is located in the diencephalon. The diencephalon and the telencephalon make up the
forebrain. - CORRECT ANSWER The mesencephalon does not contain which of the following?
A. substantia nigra
B. hypothalamus
C. inferior colliculus
D. superior colliculus
A.
,Seizures are generally divided into two main types: "partial" or "focal," and generalized. Partial (focal)
seizures typically begin with uncontrollable twitching of a small part of the body, for example, one
finger, which may start to jerk, followed by jerking of the entire arm and then the rest of that side of the
body, and may lead to jerking of the entire body. Although it can eventually affect the entire body, it is
referred to as a "partial" seizure because of how it initially developed. This is sometimes called "partial
seizure with secondary generalization." Partial seizures are further subdivided into "simple partial
seizures," which have no alteration of consciousness, and "complex partial seizures," which do alter
consciousness. The generalized type of seizures include the petit mal and tonic-clonic (grand mal) types.
Petit mal (absence) seizures are characterized by minimal motor activity and a lack of - CORRECT
ANSWER A seizure that begins with uncontrollable twitching of a small part of the body and gradually
spreads throughout one side or the entire body is referred to as:
A. partial
B. petit mal
C. tonic-clonic
D. generalized
B.
The cingulate gyrus acts as a "satisfaction center" and mediates the feelings of satisfaction that follow
eating and sex. The basal ganglia (a.) are important in the regulation of muscle tone and fine motor
control. The reticular activating system (c.) is vital to consciousness and arousal. The hippocampus (d.) is
more associated with learning and memory consolidation - CORRECT ANSWER Which of the following
mediates the feelings of satisfaction that follow eating and sex, acting as a "satisfaction center"?
A. basal ganglia
B. cingulate gyrus
C. reticular activating system
D. hippocampus
C.
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a standardized test that rates three categories of patient responses: eye
opening, best motor response, and best verbal response. The eye opening tests indicate the function of
the brain's activating center, the best verbal response indicates the condition of the central nervous
system within the cerebral cortex, and the best motor response examines the ability to move arms and
legs. The levels of responses indicate the degree of nervous system or brain impairment with "1" being
the lowest possible score in each category. Using these scores, which range from 3 to 15 to form the
Glascow Coma Scale, brain injuries are classified as mild, moderate or severe. The Rancho Los Amigo
Scale (response "A") is an evaluation of eight levels of cognitive functioning administered in acute
rehabilitative settings following release from intensive care. The AVPU Scale (response "B") is primarily
,used aft - CORRECT ANSWER An accident victim has been partially stabilized in a hospital emergency
room and is being transferred to an intensive care unit for continued assessment and treatment. At this
point, which of the following is commonly used to evaluate for brain injuries?
A. Rancho Los Amigo Scale
B. AVPU Scale
C. Glascow Coma Scale
D. Disability Rating Scale
C.
An individual making impulsive statements or other types of problems with response inhibition is more
from the result of damage to the frontal lobes. Specifically, disinhibition, impulsiveness, happy
indifference, and jocularity frequently result from damage to the right frontal lobe. In comparison,
damage to the left frontal lobe most often results in reduced speech, depression, and apathy. The striate
cortex (b.) is associated with the initial, and more rudimentary, steps of visual processing. Problems with
auditory perception, changes in sexuality, and severe anterograde amnesia are examples of behaviors
that have been linked to temporal lobe (d.) damage - CORRECT ANSWER Brain damage to the
_____________ frequently results in loss of social inhibitions and ignoring rules of polite conduct.
A. hypothalamus
B. striate cortex
C. prefrontal cortex
D. temporal lobe
B.
Focal, or partial, seizures are the result of abnormal electrical activity in one region of the brain. In the
parietal lobe, this abnormal electrical activity causes unusual bodily sensations symptoms such as
tingling or warmth on the side of the body opposite the affected lobe. Partial seizures in the occipital
lobe are likely to causes the symptom of strange colors or flashing lights (a.). A sudden alteration in
emotions, a sense of déjà vu and/or a change in perception are symptoms of temporal lobe focal
seizures. Motor symptoms and an inability to speak ("speech arrest") are associated with frontal lobe
focal seizures - CORRECT ANSWER Focal seizures in the parietal lobe are associated with:
A. strange colors or flashing lights.
B. unusual bodily sensations.
C. a sense of déjà vu.
D. an inability to speak.
, A.
Bulimia Nervosa has been associated with lower-than-normal levels of serotonin and treatment with
medications that increase serotonin levels, like SSRIs, has been found to be useful. - CORRECT ANSWER
For the treatment of Bulimia Nervosa, a medication that ____________ would be most effective.
A. increases serotonin levels
B. increases sensitivity to cortisol
C. reduces glutamate levels
D. reduces sensitivity to acetylcholine
B.
The amygdala is an almond-shaped group of neurons that sits deep within the medial temporal lobes of
the brain. It is part of the limbic system and plays a key role in the processing and memory of emotional
information. It also plays a role in motivation, and specifically in learning based on reward and
punishment. Research has shown that emotional arousal following an event increases the subsequent
memory for that event, and that the amygdala is involved in mediating the effects of emotions on
memory. Regarding the other choices, the hypothalamus is involved in a number of functions including
emotion, thirst, hunger, and circadian rhythms; it also regulates the pituitary gland. The caudate nucleus
in involved in processing and memory of feedback from the environment and language comprehension;
it is also believed to have a role in human love and possibly be dysfunctional in people with obsessive-
compulsive disor - CORRECT ANSWER Research indicates that emotional arousal during an event
increases the strength of long-term memory for the event. The brain structure apparently responsible
for this effect is the:
A. caudate nucleus.
B. amygdala.
C. hypothalamus.
D. thalamus.
D.
The atypical antipsychotic clozapine affects different neurotransmitters than conventional antipsychotics
and, to some degree, has different side effects. For example, although it doesn't produce tardive
dyskinesia, it does cause agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal blood disease. An important advantage of
clozapine is that it's often effective when conventional antipsychotic drugs aren't. - CORRECT ANSWER
An advantage of clozapine (Clozaril) over conventional antipsychotic drugs is that it is:
A. significantly more effective for the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia.
