NEUROLOGICAL EXAM BANK
2026 100 Questions & Answers
with Detailed Explanations
EXAM INFORMATION
Institution: Various U.S. medical schools, nursing programs, and healthcare certification courses
nationwide
Subject: Medicine – Neurology & Clinical Neuroscience
Reference Materials: ABPN Board Exam Guidelines, Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical
Practice, 8th Edition
Number of Questions: 100 Multiple Choice Questions
Answer Format: Correct answer indicated with detailed rationale
Exam Year: 2026/2027 Updated Standards
SECTION 1: NEUROANATOMY & LOCALIZATION (Questions 1–20)
QUESTION 1
A 60-year-old right-handed male presents with difficulty getting lost in familiar places, writing
only on the right half of paper, and left-sided hemineglect. Where is the most likely location of
the lesion?
A) Left frontal lobe
B) Right frontal lobe
C) Left parietal lobe
D) Right parietal lobe
Answer: D) Right parietal lobe
,Rationale: The right parietal lobe (non-dominant hemisphere) is responsible for spatial
awareness, attention to the contralateral (left) visual field, and integration of sensory
information. Lesions here cause contralateral hemineglect, where the patient ignores the left
side of their body and environment. Writing only on the right half of the paper (left-sided neglect)
and getting lost (topographic disorientation) are classic signs.
QUESTION 2
A 78-year-old with an ischemic stroke has residual mild hemiplegia. The patient appears
unaware of weakness on one side of the body. When asked to raise the weak arm, he raises the
normal arm. He neglects that side of the body when dressing and grooming, did not shave one
side of his face, and has difficulty putting on a shirt when turned inside out. Which area is most
likely affected?
A) Left frontal lobe
B) Right frontal lobe
C) Left parietal lobe
D) Right parietal lobe
Answer: D) Right parietal lobe
Rationale: This patient has anosognosia (denial/lack of awareness of deficit) and hemispatial
neglect, classic for non-dominant (right) parietal lobe stroke. Patients may deny their left-sided
weakness, fail to attend to the left side of their body, and have difficulty with tasks requiring
spatial awareness like dressing.
QUESTION 3
Which cranial nerve is responsible for lateral (outward) movement of the eye?
A) Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor)
B) Cranial Nerve IV (Trochlear)
C) Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens)
D) Cranial Nerve II (Optic)
Answer: C) Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens)
Rationale: The abducens nerve (CN VI) is responsible for lateral (outward) movement of the
eye. Damage to this nerve results in impaired abduction of the affected eye.
,QUESTION 4
Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for the sensory function of the skin of the face and
the motor function of mastication?
A) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B) Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
C) Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D) Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)
Answer: B) Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
Rationale: The trigeminal nerve (CN V) has three branches that provide sensory innervation to
the face and motor innervation to the muscles of mastication (chewing).
QUESTION 5
A patient has lost their gag reflex and has difficulty swallowing. Which cranial nerve pair is most
likely affected?
A) Cranial Nerves V and VII
B) Cranial Nerves IX and X
C) Cranial Nerves XI and XII
D) Cranial Nerves III and IV
Answer: B) Cranial Nerves IX and X
Rationale: The gag reflex and swallowing involve both the glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and vagus
(CN X) nerves. CN IX is sensory for the gag reflex, while CN X provides motor function to the
pharynx and larynx.
QUESTION 6
Where does adult neurogenesis occur in the brain?
A) Cerebral cortex
B) Hippocampus and subventricular zone
C) Locus coeruleus
D) Raphe nuclei
Answer: B) Hippocampus and subventricular zone
, Rationale: Adult neurogenesis occurs primarily in the hippocampus (dentate gyrus) and the
subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles. The hippocampus is involved in memory
formation and learning.
QUESTION 7
Where in the brain are circadian rhythms related to sleep-wake behavior set and maintained?
A) Pineal gland
B) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
C) Reticular activating system
D) Locus coeruleus
Answer: B) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Rationale: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus is the body's
master circadian pacemaker. It regulates sleep-wake cycles and other circadian rhythms.
QUESTION 8
Which structure is the origin of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, the primary mediator of
reward and addiction?
A) Locus coeruleus
B) Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
C) Substantia nigra
D) Raphe nuclei
Answer: B) Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
Rationale: The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is the origin of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway,
which projects to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. This pathway is the
primary mediator of reward, reinforcement, and addiction for virtually all drugs of abuse.
QUESTION 9
A patient presents with "wrist drop." Which nerve is most likely injured?
A) Median nerve
B) Ulnar nerve
C) Radial nerve
2026 100 Questions & Answers
with Detailed Explanations
EXAM INFORMATION
Institution: Various U.S. medical schools, nursing programs, and healthcare certification courses
nationwide
Subject: Medicine – Neurology & Clinical Neuroscience
Reference Materials: ABPN Board Exam Guidelines, Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical
Practice, 8th Edition
Number of Questions: 100 Multiple Choice Questions
Answer Format: Correct answer indicated with detailed rationale
Exam Year: 2026/2027 Updated Standards
SECTION 1: NEUROANATOMY & LOCALIZATION (Questions 1–20)
QUESTION 1
A 60-year-old right-handed male presents with difficulty getting lost in familiar places, writing
only on the right half of paper, and left-sided hemineglect. Where is the most likely location of
the lesion?
A) Left frontal lobe
B) Right frontal lobe
C) Left parietal lobe
D) Right parietal lobe
Answer: D) Right parietal lobe
,Rationale: The right parietal lobe (non-dominant hemisphere) is responsible for spatial
awareness, attention to the contralateral (left) visual field, and integration of sensory
information. Lesions here cause contralateral hemineglect, where the patient ignores the left
side of their body and environment. Writing only on the right half of the paper (left-sided neglect)
and getting lost (topographic disorientation) are classic signs.
QUESTION 2
A 78-year-old with an ischemic stroke has residual mild hemiplegia. The patient appears
unaware of weakness on one side of the body. When asked to raise the weak arm, he raises the
normal arm. He neglects that side of the body when dressing and grooming, did not shave one
side of his face, and has difficulty putting on a shirt when turned inside out. Which area is most
likely affected?
A) Left frontal lobe
B) Right frontal lobe
C) Left parietal lobe
D) Right parietal lobe
Answer: D) Right parietal lobe
Rationale: This patient has anosognosia (denial/lack of awareness of deficit) and hemispatial
neglect, classic for non-dominant (right) parietal lobe stroke. Patients may deny their left-sided
weakness, fail to attend to the left side of their body, and have difficulty with tasks requiring
spatial awareness like dressing.
QUESTION 3
Which cranial nerve is responsible for lateral (outward) movement of the eye?
A) Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor)
B) Cranial Nerve IV (Trochlear)
C) Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens)
D) Cranial Nerve II (Optic)
Answer: C) Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens)
Rationale: The abducens nerve (CN VI) is responsible for lateral (outward) movement of the
eye. Damage to this nerve results in impaired abduction of the affected eye.
,QUESTION 4
Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for the sensory function of the skin of the face and
the motor function of mastication?
A) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B) Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
C) Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D) Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)
Answer: B) Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
Rationale: The trigeminal nerve (CN V) has three branches that provide sensory innervation to
the face and motor innervation to the muscles of mastication (chewing).
QUESTION 5
A patient has lost their gag reflex and has difficulty swallowing. Which cranial nerve pair is most
likely affected?
A) Cranial Nerves V and VII
B) Cranial Nerves IX and X
C) Cranial Nerves XI and XII
D) Cranial Nerves III and IV
Answer: B) Cranial Nerves IX and X
Rationale: The gag reflex and swallowing involve both the glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and vagus
(CN X) nerves. CN IX is sensory for the gag reflex, while CN X provides motor function to the
pharynx and larynx.
QUESTION 6
Where does adult neurogenesis occur in the brain?
A) Cerebral cortex
B) Hippocampus and subventricular zone
C) Locus coeruleus
D) Raphe nuclei
Answer: B) Hippocampus and subventricular zone
, Rationale: Adult neurogenesis occurs primarily in the hippocampus (dentate gyrus) and the
subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles. The hippocampus is involved in memory
formation and learning.
QUESTION 7
Where in the brain are circadian rhythms related to sleep-wake behavior set and maintained?
A) Pineal gland
B) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
C) Reticular activating system
D) Locus coeruleus
Answer: B) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Rationale: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus is the body's
master circadian pacemaker. It regulates sleep-wake cycles and other circadian rhythms.
QUESTION 8
Which structure is the origin of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, the primary mediator of
reward and addiction?
A) Locus coeruleus
B) Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
C) Substantia nigra
D) Raphe nuclei
Answer: B) Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
Rationale: The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is the origin of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway,
which projects to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. This pathway is the
primary mediator of reward, reinforcement, and addiction for virtually all drugs of abuse.
QUESTION 9
A patient presents with "wrist drop." Which nerve is most likely injured?
A) Median nerve
B) Ulnar nerve
C) Radial nerve
