GRE PSYCHOLOGY -
BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
Central Nervous System - ANS-- composed of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System - ANS-- the pathway that runs to and from the CNS
- afferent fibers run toward the CNS; efferent fibers run away from the CNS
- composed of:
1) Somatic Nervous System - controls voluntary movements of the striated muscles
2) Autonomic Nervous System - involuntary movements of the smooth muscles, 2
parts:
a) Sympathetic nervous system - arousal
b) Parasympathetic nervous system - recuperation
Spinal Cord - ANS-- consists of an inner core of gray matter (cell bodies and dendrites)
and an outer covering of white matter (nerve fivers, axon bundles, myelin sheathing)
that go to and from the brain
Hindbrain - ANS-- Myelencephalon (medulla): controls reflexes, sleep, attention,
movement
, - Metencephalon: contains the pons (connects brain to spine) and cerebellum (muscle
coordination, balance, and posture)
- Reticular Formation: considered the oldest part of the brain; controls alertness, thirst,
sleep, and involuntary muscles
Mesencephalon (Midbrain) - ANS-- Tectum: controls vision and hearing
- Tegmentum: houses the part of the reticular formation; involved in the sensorimotor
system, analgesic effect of opiates
Forebrain - ANS-can be divided into the diencephalon and the telencephalon
Diencephalon - ANS-- Thalamus: channels sensory information to the cerebral cortex
- Hypothalamus: controls ANS biological motivations (hunger, thirst) and the pituitary
gland (master endocrine gland)
Telencephalon - ANS-- Limbic system: a group of structures around the brainstem
involved in fleeing, feeding, fighting, and fornicating
- Hippocampus: involved in transferring STM to LTM
- Amygdala: controls emotional reactions, fear, anger
- Cingulate Gyrus: links areas in the brain dealing with emotion and decisions
Cerebral Cortex - ANS-- the outer half-inch of the cerebral hemispheres, with gyri
(bumps) and sulci (fissures)
- 90% is neocortex (new in evolution, 6-layer cortex), the other 10% has < 6 layers and is
more primitive
1) Frontal lobe: speech, reasoning, problem solving
2) Occipital lobe: vision
3) Parietal lobe: somatosensory system
4) Temporal lobe: hearing
Meninges - ANS-tough connective tissues that cover and protect the brain and spinal
cord
BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
Central Nervous System - ANS-- composed of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System - ANS-- the pathway that runs to and from the CNS
- afferent fibers run toward the CNS; efferent fibers run away from the CNS
- composed of:
1) Somatic Nervous System - controls voluntary movements of the striated muscles
2) Autonomic Nervous System - involuntary movements of the smooth muscles, 2
parts:
a) Sympathetic nervous system - arousal
b) Parasympathetic nervous system - recuperation
Spinal Cord - ANS-- consists of an inner core of gray matter (cell bodies and dendrites)
and an outer covering of white matter (nerve fivers, axon bundles, myelin sheathing)
that go to and from the brain
Hindbrain - ANS-- Myelencephalon (medulla): controls reflexes, sleep, attention,
movement
, - Metencephalon: contains the pons (connects brain to spine) and cerebellum (muscle
coordination, balance, and posture)
- Reticular Formation: considered the oldest part of the brain; controls alertness, thirst,
sleep, and involuntary muscles
Mesencephalon (Midbrain) - ANS-- Tectum: controls vision and hearing
- Tegmentum: houses the part of the reticular formation; involved in the sensorimotor
system, analgesic effect of opiates
Forebrain - ANS-can be divided into the diencephalon and the telencephalon
Diencephalon - ANS-- Thalamus: channels sensory information to the cerebral cortex
- Hypothalamus: controls ANS biological motivations (hunger, thirst) and the pituitary
gland (master endocrine gland)
Telencephalon - ANS-- Limbic system: a group of structures around the brainstem
involved in fleeing, feeding, fighting, and fornicating
- Hippocampus: involved in transferring STM to LTM
- Amygdala: controls emotional reactions, fear, anger
- Cingulate Gyrus: links areas in the brain dealing with emotion and decisions
Cerebral Cortex - ANS-- the outer half-inch of the cerebral hemispheres, with gyri
(bumps) and sulci (fissures)
- 90% is neocortex (new in evolution, 6-layer cortex), the other 10% has < 6 layers and is
more primitive
1) Frontal lobe: speech, reasoning, problem solving
2) Occipital lobe: vision
3) Parietal lobe: somatosensory system
4) Temporal lobe: hearing
Meninges - ANS-tough connective tissues that cover and protect the brain and spinal
cord
