NURS 5357 Neurobiology
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. Which EEG feature is typically seen in Stage 2 sleep?
Sleep spindles — Stage 2 is marked by sleep spindles and K-complexes, brief
bursts of brain activity that help consolidate memory and block out external
stimuli.
2. REM latency is decreased in nearly all of the following conditions except which
one?
Generalized anxiety — Depression, narcolepsy, and other REM-dysregulating
conditions shorten REM latency, but generalized anxiety disorder does not reliably
do so.
3. Which statement about brain imaging during sleep is true?
PET scans show decreased cerebral blood flow during slow-wave sleep (SWS)
— SWS is associated with reduced global metabolic activity, reflecting the brain's
restorative state.
4. Which statement about sleep and aging is false?
"REM sleep increases in the latter part of life" — In reality, REM sleep
decreases with age, along with more fragmented, lighter sleep overall.
5. Which brain structure is active during nighttime sleep in humans?
VLPO (ventrolateral preoptic nucleus) — The VLPO promotes sleep by
inhibiting wake-promoting arousal centers.
,6. Which neurotransmitter system is active during arousal and REM sleep?
Cholinergic system — Acetylcholine drives cortical activation during both
wakefulness and REM sleep, contributing to REM's "active brain, paralyzed body"
state.
7. Which of the following is NOT a proposed function of sleep?
Neurotransmitter reaccumulation — Sleep is linked to energy conservation,
memory consolidation, and repair, not neurotransmitter "reaccumulation" (an
invented distractor).
8. Inhibiting the VLPO does what to sleep?
Wakes you up — The VLPO normally suppresses arousal systems; blocking it
removes that inhibition, promoting wakefulness.
9. What functions does sleep serve?
Energy conservation, immune support, brain repair/clearance of oxidative
stress, neurogenesis, synaptic pruning, development, and memory consolidation
— Sleep is multifunctional, supporting both physical restoration and cognitive
processing.
10. Damage to the VLPO results in what chronic condition?
Insomnia — Since the VLPO actively promotes sleep, its damage removes this
"sleep switch," leading to persistent wakefulness.
11. A lack of what hypothalamic neuropeptide plays a role in narcolepsy?
Orexin (hypocretin) — Orexin neurons stabilize wakefulness; their loss causes
the sudden sleep-wake transitions seen in narcolepsy.
12. What is considered the "third system" controlling sleep/wake regulation?
Dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (DMH) — Beyond the SCN
(circadian) and VLPO/arousal systems, the DMH integrates circadian and
homeostatic sleep signals.
13. What accumulates in the brain throughout the day and signals the drive to
sleep?
, Adenosine — It builds up as a byproduct of energy metabolism, reflecting
how long the brain has been awake.
14. How does adenosine promote sleepiness?
It binds receptors in the basal forebrain and hypothalamus, inhibiting wake-
promoting neurons and causing drowsiness.
15. What happens to adenosine levels during sleep?
They decrease — as metabolic activity slows and adenosine is broken down,
levels fall, contributing to natural waking.
16. What structure acts as the central circadian pacemaker?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) — It receives direct retinal light input and
synchronizes the body's internal clock to the external light-dark cycle.
17. What happens to the cortex as a person transitions from wakefulness into
NREM sleep?
Cortical activity decreases, reducing higher cognitive function, awareness, and
responsiveness to stimuli.
18. Which brainstem structure regulates arousal and basic physiological functions
(breathing, heart rate) during sleep?
Reticular formation — Part of the ascending arousal system that helps
regulate consciousness level.
19. What three brain regions interact to regulate the sleep-wake cycle?
Cortex, thalamus, and brainstem — Together they form the circuitry
controlling transitions between sleep and wakefulness.
20. What is one restorative function of sleep related to physical repair?
Increased growth hormone release and cellular repair during deep sleep
stages support tissue, muscle, and immune restoration.
21. How does REM sleep support cognition?
It aids in memory consolidation and learning by strengthening neural
connections formed during the day.
, 22. How does sleep affect emotional health?
Adequate sleep supports mood regulation, reducing the risk of depression
and anxiety.
23. How does disrupted sleep affect metabolism?
It causes hormonal imbalance, increasing risk of weight gain and metabolic
disorders.
24. How does sleep differ in infancy compared to later life?
Infant sleep involves longer durations and frequent naps, essential for growth
and brain development; older adults have lighter, more fragmented sleep.
Cognitive Testing & ADHD
25. Which statement about continuous performance tests (CPTs) is false?
"Elderly subjects perform worst" — CPTs are typically used to assess attention
deficits (e.g., in ADHD), not primarily aging-related decline.
26. What does a delayed-response task measure?
Working memory — It requires holding information "online" over a delay
before responding, a core working-memory function.
27. In neurofeedback, the goal is to help patients spend more time in which
brainwave rhythm to improve attention?
Beta rhythm — Beta activity is associated with alert, focused mental states,
contrasted with slower theta activity common in inattentive states.
28. Stimulant medications improve attention through several mechanisms except
which one?
"Increase NE efflux in the striatum" — Stimulants primarily boost
dopamine/norepinephrine in prefrontal circuits, not specifically NE efflux in the
striatum.
29. Activity at the nucleus accumbens (striatum) explains several ADHD-related
functions except which?
Working memory — The nucleus accumbens is more linked to reward
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. Which EEG feature is typically seen in Stage 2 sleep?
Sleep spindles — Stage 2 is marked by sleep spindles and K-complexes, brief
bursts of brain activity that help consolidate memory and block out external
stimuli.
2. REM latency is decreased in nearly all of the following conditions except which
one?
Generalized anxiety — Depression, narcolepsy, and other REM-dysregulating
conditions shorten REM latency, but generalized anxiety disorder does not reliably
do so.
3. Which statement about brain imaging during sleep is true?
PET scans show decreased cerebral blood flow during slow-wave sleep (SWS)
— SWS is associated with reduced global metabolic activity, reflecting the brain's
restorative state.
4. Which statement about sleep and aging is false?
"REM sleep increases in the latter part of life" — In reality, REM sleep
decreases with age, along with more fragmented, lighter sleep overall.
5. Which brain structure is active during nighttime sleep in humans?
VLPO (ventrolateral preoptic nucleus) — The VLPO promotes sleep by
inhibiting wake-promoting arousal centers.
,6. Which neurotransmitter system is active during arousal and REM sleep?
Cholinergic system — Acetylcholine drives cortical activation during both
wakefulness and REM sleep, contributing to REM's "active brain, paralyzed body"
state.
7. Which of the following is NOT a proposed function of sleep?
Neurotransmitter reaccumulation — Sleep is linked to energy conservation,
memory consolidation, and repair, not neurotransmitter "reaccumulation" (an
invented distractor).
8. Inhibiting the VLPO does what to sleep?
Wakes you up — The VLPO normally suppresses arousal systems; blocking it
removes that inhibition, promoting wakefulness.
9. What functions does sleep serve?
Energy conservation, immune support, brain repair/clearance of oxidative
stress, neurogenesis, synaptic pruning, development, and memory consolidation
— Sleep is multifunctional, supporting both physical restoration and cognitive
processing.
10. Damage to the VLPO results in what chronic condition?
Insomnia — Since the VLPO actively promotes sleep, its damage removes this
"sleep switch," leading to persistent wakefulness.
11. A lack of what hypothalamic neuropeptide plays a role in narcolepsy?
Orexin (hypocretin) — Orexin neurons stabilize wakefulness; their loss causes
the sudden sleep-wake transitions seen in narcolepsy.
12. What is considered the "third system" controlling sleep/wake regulation?
Dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (DMH) — Beyond the SCN
(circadian) and VLPO/arousal systems, the DMH integrates circadian and
homeostatic sleep signals.
13. What accumulates in the brain throughout the day and signals the drive to
sleep?
, Adenosine — It builds up as a byproduct of energy metabolism, reflecting
how long the brain has been awake.
14. How does adenosine promote sleepiness?
It binds receptors in the basal forebrain and hypothalamus, inhibiting wake-
promoting neurons and causing drowsiness.
15. What happens to adenosine levels during sleep?
They decrease — as metabolic activity slows and adenosine is broken down,
levels fall, contributing to natural waking.
16. What structure acts as the central circadian pacemaker?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) — It receives direct retinal light input and
synchronizes the body's internal clock to the external light-dark cycle.
17. What happens to the cortex as a person transitions from wakefulness into
NREM sleep?
Cortical activity decreases, reducing higher cognitive function, awareness, and
responsiveness to stimuli.
18. Which brainstem structure regulates arousal and basic physiological functions
(breathing, heart rate) during sleep?
Reticular formation — Part of the ascending arousal system that helps
regulate consciousness level.
19. What three brain regions interact to regulate the sleep-wake cycle?
Cortex, thalamus, and brainstem — Together they form the circuitry
controlling transitions between sleep and wakefulness.
20. What is one restorative function of sleep related to physical repair?
Increased growth hormone release and cellular repair during deep sleep
stages support tissue, muscle, and immune restoration.
21. How does REM sleep support cognition?
It aids in memory consolidation and learning by strengthening neural
connections formed during the day.
, 22. How does sleep affect emotional health?
Adequate sleep supports mood regulation, reducing the risk of depression
and anxiety.
23. How does disrupted sleep affect metabolism?
It causes hormonal imbalance, increasing risk of weight gain and metabolic
disorders.
24. How does sleep differ in infancy compared to later life?
Infant sleep involves longer durations and frequent naps, essential for growth
and brain development; older adults have lighter, more fragmented sleep.
Cognitive Testing & ADHD
25. Which statement about continuous performance tests (CPTs) is false?
"Elderly subjects perform worst" — CPTs are typically used to assess attention
deficits (e.g., in ADHD), not primarily aging-related decline.
26. What does a delayed-response task measure?
Working memory — It requires holding information "online" over a delay
before responding, a core working-memory function.
27. In neurofeedback, the goal is to help patients spend more time in which
brainwave rhythm to improve attention?
Beta rhythm — Beta activity is associated with alert, focused mental states,
contrasted with slower theta activity common in inattentive states.
28. Stimulant medications improve attention through several mechanisms except
which one?
"Increase NE efflux in the striatum" — Stimulants primarily boost
dopamine/norepinephrine in prefrontal circuits, not specifically NE efflux in the
striatum.
29. Activity at the nucleus accumbens (striatum) explains several ADHD-related
functions except which?
Working memory — The nucleus accumbens is more linked to reward
