PSYCHIATRY & NEUROLOGY PHYSICIAN
BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM| ULTIMATE
EXAM WITH CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
The primary function of the prefrontal cortex is:
A. Motor coordination
B. Executive function and decision-making
C. Visual processing
D. Language comprehension
Answer: B
Rationale: The prefrontal cortex regulates planning,
judgment, impulse control, and goal-directed behavior.
2. Broca’s area damage results in:
A. Fluent but nonsensical speech
B. Impaired comprehension
C. Non-fluent speech with preserved comprehension
D. Memory loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Broca’s aphasia produces effortful, halting
speech while comprehension remains relatively intact.
,3. The basal ganglia primarily regulate:
A. Sensory perception
B. Emotional processing
C. Voluntary motor control
D. Autonomic function
Answer: C
Rationale: Basal ganglia circuits modulate movement
initiation and coordination.
4. Dopamine deficiency in the nigrostriatal pathway causes:
A. Schizophrenia
B. Parkinson disease
C. Depression
D. Alzheimer disease
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia
nigra leads to motor symptoms.
5. The hippocampus is essential for:
A. Motor coordination
B. Emotional expression
,C. Memory consolidation
D. Language production
Answer: C
Rationale: Hippocampal damage causes anterograde
memory impairment.
6. The limbic system primarily regulates:
A. Motor reflexes
B. Emotions and behavior
C. Vision
D. Hearing
Answer: B
Rationale: Structures like the amygdala and hippocampus
mediate emotional processing.
7. The reticular activating system controls:
A. Sleep-wake cycles and alertness
B. Language production
C. Pain perception
D. Visual processing
Answer: A
, Rationale: RAS maintains consciousness and arousal.
8. Upper motor neuron lesions produce:
A. Flaccid paralysis
B. Hyperreflexia and spasticity
C. Muscle atrophy immediately
D. Fasciculations
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of inhibitory control leads to increased tone
and reflexes.
9. The neurotransmitter primarily involved in anxiety
disorders is:
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: GABA is inhibitory; reduced activity contributes
to anxiety.
10. NMDA receptor dysfunction is implicated in:
BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM| ULTIMATE
EXAM WITH CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
The primary function of the prefrontal cortex is:
A. Motor coordination
B. Executive function and decision-making
C. Visual processing
D. Language comprehension
Answer: B
Rationale: The prefrontal cortex regulates planning,
judgment, impulse control, and goal-directed behavior.
2. Broca’s area damage results in:
A. Fluent but nonsensical speech
B. Impaired comprehension
C. Non-fluent speech with preserved comprehension
D. Memory loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Broca’s aphasia produces effortful, halting
speech while comprehension remains relatively intact.
,3. The basal ganglia primarily regulate:
A. Sensory perception
B. Emotional processing
C. Voluntary motor control
D. Autonomic function
Answer: C
Rationale: Basal ganglia circuits modulate movement
initiation and coordination.
4. Dopamine deficiency in the nigrostriatal pathway causes:
A. Schizophrenia
B. Parkinson disease
C. Depression
D. Alzheimer disease
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia
nigra leads to motor symptoms.
5. The hippocampus is essential for:
A. Motor coordination
B. Emotional expression
,C. Memory consolidation
D. Language production
Answer: C
Rationale: Hippocampal damage causes anterograde
memory impairment.
6. The limbic system primarily regulates:
A. Motor reflexes
B. Emotions and behavior
C. Vision
D. Hearing
Answer: B
Rationale: Structures like the amygdala and hippocampus
mediate emotional processing.
7. The reticular activating system controls:
A. Sleep-wake cycles and alertness
B. Language production
C. Pain perception
D. Visual processing
Answer: A
, Rationale: RAS maintains consciousness and arousal.
8. Upper motor neuron lesions produce:
A. Flaccid paralysis
B. Hyperreflexia and spasticity
C. Muscle atrophy immediately
D. Fasciculations
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of inhibitory control leads to increased tone
and reflexes.
9. The neurotransmitter primarily involved in anxiety
disorders is:
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: GABA is inhibitory; reduced activity contributes
to anxiety.
10. NMDA receptor dysfunction is implicated in:
