BIOD 322 Neuroscience Comprehensive Final Exam
2026/2027 UPDATE UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1. Which type of glial cell is responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the
Central Nervous System (CNS)?
A. Schwann cells
B. Microglia
C. Oligodendrocytes
D. Astrocytes
Answer: C
Rationale: Oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple axons in the CNS, whereas Schwann cells
perform this function in the Peripheral Nervous System.
2. During an action potential, which event is primarily responsible for
depolarization?
A. Activation of the Sodium-Potassium pump
B. Efflux of Potassium (K+) ions
C. Influx of Calcium (Ca2+) ions
D. Influx of Sodium (Na+) ions
Answer: D
Rationale: Depolarization occurs when voltage-gated sodium channels open, allowing Na+
to rush into the cell, making the membrane potential more positive.
,3. Damage to Broca’s area, located in the frontal lobe, typically results in what
condition?
A. Inability to understand spoken language
B. Inability to recognize faces
C. Loss of vision in the left field
D. Difficulty producing speech (non-fluent aphasia)
Answer: D
Rationale: Broca’s area is crucial for speech production. Damage results in Broca’s aphasia,
where the patient understands language but struggles to speak.
4. Which structure acts as the primary relay station for sensory information
traveling to the cerebral cortex?
A. Thalamus
B. Basal Ganglia
C. Hypothalamus
D. Hippocampus
Answer: A
Rationale: The thalamus filters and directs almost all sensory input (except smell) to the
appropriate areas of the cortex.
5. The ‘Fight or Flight’ response is mediated by which division of the nervous
system?
A. Parasympathetic Nervous System
B. Somatic Nervous System
C. Central Nervous System
D. Sympathetic Nervous System
Answer: D
Rationale: The Sympathetic Nervous System prepares the body for stressful or emergency
situations by increasing heart rate and diverting blood to muscles.
, 6. Which lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing visual
information?
A. Temporal Lobe
B. Parietal Lobe
C. Frontal Lobe
D. Occipital Lobe
Answer: D
Rationale: The occipital lobe contains the primary visual cortex, which processes data
from the eyes.
7. What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central
nervous system?
A. GABA
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. Glutamate
Answer: D
Rationale: Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter, while GABA is the
most abundant inhibitory one.
8. The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is approximately:
A. +40 mV
B. 0 mV
C. -70 mV
D. -90 mV
Answer: C
Rationale: The resting potential is typically around -70 mV due to the distribution of ions
and the permeability of the membrane.
2026/2027 UPDATE UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1. Which type of glial cell is responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the
Central Nervous System (CNS)?
A. Schwann cells
B. Microglia
C. Oligodendrocytes
D. Astrocytes
Answer: C
Rationale: Oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple axons in the CNS, whereas Schwann cells
perform this function in the Peripheral Nervous System.
2. During an action potential, which event is primarily responsible for
depolarization?
A. Activation of the Sodium-Potassium pump
B. Efflux of Potassium (K+) ions
C. Influx of Calcium (Ca2+) ions
D. Influx of Sodium (Na+) ions
Answer: D
Rationale: Depolarization occurs when voltage-gated sodium channels open, allowing Na+
to rush into the cell, making the membrane potential more positive.
,3. Damage to Broca’s area, located in the frontal lobe, typically results in what
condition?
A. Inability to understand spoken language
B. Inability to recognize faces
C. Loss of vision in the left field
D. Difficulty producing speech (non-fluent aphasia)
Answer: D
Rationale: Broca’s area is crucial for speech production. Damage results in Broca’s aphasia,
where the patient understands language but struggles to speak.
4. Which structure acts as the primary relay station for sensory information
traveling to the cerebral cortex?
A. Thalamus
B. Basal Ganglia
C. Hypothalamus
D. Hippocampus
Answer: A
Rationale: The thalamus filters and directs almost all sensory input (except smell) to the
appropriate areas of the cortex.
5. The ‘Fight or Flight’ response is mediated by which division of the nervous
system?
A. Parasympathetic Nervous System
B. Somatic Nervous System
C. Central Nervous System
D. Sympathetic Nervous System
Answer: D
Rationale: The Sympathetic Nervous System prepares the body for stressful or emergency
situations by increasing heart rate and diverting blood to muscles.
, 6. Which lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing visual
information?
A. Temporal Lobe
B. Parietal Lobe
C. Frontal Lobe
D. Occipital Lobe
Answer: D
Rationale: The occipital lobe contains the primary visual cortex, which processes data
from the eyes.
7. What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central
nervous system?
A. GABA
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. Glutamate
Answer: D
Rationale: Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter, while GABA is the
most abundant inhibitory one.
8. The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is approximately:
A. +40 mV
B. 0 mV
C. -70 mV
D. -90 mV
Answer: C
Rationale: The resting potential is typically around -70 mV due to the distribution of ions
and the permeability of the membrane.
