WGU D574 Neuropsychology – Objective
Assessment (OA) – Western Governors University –
2026 – Complete Quiz with Correct Answers
1. Which structure is the primary relay station for sensory
information (excluding smell) en route to the cerebral
cortex?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
C) Basal ganglia
D) Hippocampus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The thalamus processes and relays nearly all
sensory input to appropriate cortical regions. The
hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, basal ganglia
control movement, and hippocampus is for memory.
2. Damage to Broca’s area typically results in:
A) Fluent aphasia with poor comprehension
1
,B) Non-fluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved
comprehension
C) Pure word deafness
D) Alexia without agraphia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Broca’s area (left inferior frontal gyrus) is
critical for speech production. Damage causes expressive
(non-fluent) aphasia.
3. The corpus callosum primarily:
A) Connects the cerebellum to the brainstem
B) Transfers motor commands from cortex to spinal cord
C) Connects the two cerebral hemispheres
D) Produces cerebrospinal fluid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The corpus callosum is the largest white matter
tract for interhemispheric communication.
4. Which lobe houses the primary visual cortex?
A) Frontal
2
,B) Temporal
C) Parietal
D) Occipital
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The occipital lobe contains the calcarine sulcus
where V1 processes visual input.
5. The hippocampus is most critical for:
A) Emotional regulation
B) Balance and coordination
C) Formation of new declarative memories
D) Executive function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hippocampus consolidates short-term to
long-term explicit memories. Bilateral damage causes
anterograde amnesia.
6. Which basal ganglia structure is primarily involved in
the direct pathway for movement initiation?
A) Subthalamic nucleus
3
, B) Globus pallidus externus
C) Striatum (caudate/putamen)
D) Substantia nigra pars compacta
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The striatum receives cortical input and initiates
the direct pathway (via D1 receptors) to disinhibit
thalamus and facilitate movement.
7. A patient with impaired prosody (emotional tone of
speech) and difficulty understanding sarcasm likely has a
lesion in:
A) Left frontal operculum
B) Right hemisphere homolog of Broca’s area
C) Bilateral temporal poles
D) Left angular gyrus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The right hemisphere is dominant for prosody
and affective prosody comprehension. Right frontal
lesions cause aprosodia.
4
Assessment (OA) – Western Governors University –
2026 – Complete Quiz with Correct Answers
1. Which structure is the primary relay station for sensory
information (excluding smell) en route to the cerebral
cortex?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
C) Basal ganglia
D) Hippocampus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The thalamus processes and relays nearly all
sensory input to appropriate cortical regions. The
hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, basal ganglia
control movement, and hippocampus is for memory.
2. Damage to Broca’s area typically results in:
A) Fluent aphasia with poor comprehension
1
,B) Non-fluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved
comprehension
C) Pure word deafness
D) Alexia without agraphia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Broca’s area (left inferior frontal gyrus) is
critical for speech production. Damage causes expressive
(non-fluent) aphasia.
3. The corpus callosum primarily:
A) Connects the cerebellum to the brainstem
B) Transfers motor commands from cortex to spinal cord
C) Connects the two cerebral hemispheres
D) Produces cerebrospinal fluid
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The corpus callosum is the largest white matter
tract for interhemispheric communication.
4. Which lobe houses the primary visual cortex?
A) Frontal
2
,B) Temporal
C) Parietal
D) Occipital
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The occipital lobe contains the calcarine sulcus
where V1 processes visual input.
5. The hippocampus is most critical for:
A) Emotional regulation
B) Balance and coordination
C) Formation of new declarative memories
D) Executive function
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hippocampus consolidates short-term to
long-term explicit memories. Bilateral damage causes
anterograde amnesia.
6. Which basal ganglia structure is primarily involved in
the direct pathway for movement initiation?
A) Subthalamic nucleus
3
, B) Globus pallidus externus
C) Striatum (caudate/putamen)
D) Substantia nigra pars compacta
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The striatum receives cortical input and initiates
the direct pathway (via D1 receptors) to disinhibit
thalamus and facilitate movement.
7. A patient with impaired prosody (emotional tone of
speech) and difficulty understanding sarcasm likely has a
lesion in:
A) Left frontal operculum
B) Right hemisphere homolog of Broca’s area
C) Bilateral temporal poles
D) Left angular gyrus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The right hemisphere is dominant for prosody
and affective prosody comprehension. Right frontal
lesions cause aprosodia.
4
