NEUROBIOLOGY ALL 2026 CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔A neuron is unable to produce another action potential under any circumstances
during the - ✔✔absolute refractory period.
✔✔Which of the following is most likely to result in the generation of an action potential?
- ✔✔Several excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) that occur simultaneously and
occur on the same dendritic spine.
✔✔In response to stimulation ___ or ___ channels may open producing an inhibitory
postsynaptic potential (IPSP). - ✔✔Cl-; potassium (K+)
✔✔Which of the following is the correct order for events related to electrical signaling in
neurons? - ✔✔Threshold, rise, fall, absolute refractory period, relative refractory period
✔✔According to Ohm's Law, ___________ provide(s) resistance in neuron physiology. -
✔✔ion channels
✔✔Nissl Stain: - ✔✔Stain nuclei and surrounding material.
Distinguish between neurons and glia
facilitates the study of cytoarchitecture
✔✔golgi stain - ✔✔Soak brain tissue in silver chromate
Stains small number of neurons
Cell body or soma
Neurites: axons and dendrites
✔✔Camille Golgi: - ✔✔Developed golgi stain and reticular theory
✔✔Santiago Ramón y Cajal - ✔✔Father of modern neuroscience worked out the
circuitry of many brain regions using the golgi stain
✔✔neuron doctrine - ✔✔Neurons communicate by contact, not continuity
✔✔Unipolar
Bipolar
multipolar - ✔✔single neurite, rapid and long distance communication
Two or more neurties used for local processing
more than two neurites
✔✔Sensory neurons:
Motor neurons:
, Interneurons: - ✔✔carries info from sensory receptors to spinal cord and brain (afferent)
carries info from brain and spinal cord to muscles (efferent)
link sensory and motor neurons
✔✔CHEMICAL GRADIENT - ✔✔Dissolved ions distribute evenly. Ions move from high
concentration to low concentration
✔✔electrical gradient - ✔✔Difference in charge between two regions that allows a flow
of current if two regions are connected. Opposite charges attract, similar repel
✔✔gated channels - ✔✔embedded proteins that only allow substance to pass when
open
✔✔leak channels - ✔✔Channels that are always open
✔✔What is the resting potential, what ions are important & where are they located
relative to the cell membrane when the neuron is at resting potential - ✔✔Resting
potential is at -65 to -85 mV
Ion most dependent on resting potential is K+ (located inside the cell membrane)
✔✔Understand how Ohm's Law applies to the structure of a neuron - ✔✔The amount of
current flowing through the resistors.
Voltage: unequal distribution of ions across a membrane
Current: flow of ions across the membrane
Resistance: ion channels
Capacitance: neuron membrane eqwu
✔✔equilibrium potential - ✔✔The voltage across the membrane only one ion is able to
move in a mixed system or when chemical & electrical forces are equal and opposite
✔✔Nerst potential - ✔✔Equilibrium voltage at which chemical forces balance the
electrical forces, resulting in zero net ionic flow when a single ion species is considered
✔✔How is the resting potential maintained? (How do the ions move across the
membrane & why) - ✔✔There is an ongoing influx of Na+ and a matching efflux of K+
✔✔Know the contribution of Hodgkin & Huxley - ✔✔The axon experimentally to
accurately determine the resting and action potential a
✔✔Understand the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation - ✔✔The greater an ions
concentration and permeability, the more it contributes to resting membrane potential
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔A neuron is unable to produce another action potential under any circumstances
during the - ✔✔absolute refractory period.
✔✔Which of the following is most likely to result in the generation of an action potential?
- ✔✔Several excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) that occur simultaneously and
occur on the same dendritic spine.
✔✔In response to stimulation ___ or ___ channels may open producing an inhibitory
postsynaptic potential (IPSP). - ✔✔Cl-; potassium (K+)
✔✔Which of the following is the correct order for events related to electrical signaling in
neurons? - ✔✔Threshold, rise, fall, absolute refractory period, relative refractory period
✔✔According to Ohm's Law, ___________ provide(s) resistance in neuron physiology. -
✔✔ion channels
✔✔Nissl Stain: - ✔✔Stain nuclei and surrounding material.
Distinguish between neurons and glia
facilitates the study of cytoarchitecture
✔✔golgi stain - ✔✔Soak brain tissue in silver chromate
Stains small number of neurons
Cell body or soma
Neurites: axons and dendrites
✔✔Camille Golgi: - ✔✔Developed golgi stain and reticular theory
✔✔Santiago Ramón y Cajal - ✔✔Father of modern neuroscience worked out the
circuitry of many brain regions using the golgi stain
✔✔neuron doctrine - ✔✔Neurons communicate by contact, not continuity
✔✔Unipolar
Bipolar
multipolar - ✔✔single neurite, rapid and long distance communication
Two or more neurties used for local processing
more than two neurites
✔✔Sensory neurons:
Motor neurons:
, Interneurons: - ✔✔carries info from sensory receptors to spinal cord and brain (afferent)
carries info from brain and spinal cord to muscles (efferent)
link sensory and motor neurons
✔✔CHEMICAL GRADIENT - ✔✔Dissolved ions distribute evenly. Ions move from high
concentration to low concentration
✔✔electrical gradient - ✔✔Difference in charge between two regions that allows a flow
of current if two regions are connected. Opposite charges attract, similar repel
✔✔gated channels - ✔✔embedded proteins that only allow substance to pass when
open
✔✔leak channels - ✔✔Channels that are always open
✔✔What is the resting potential, what ions are important & where are they located
relative to the cell membrane when the neuron is at resting potential - ✔✔Resting
potential is at -65 to -85 mV
Ion most dependent on resting potential is K+ (located inside the cell membrane)
✔✔Understand how Ohm's Law applies to the structure of a neuron - ✔✔The amount of
current flowing through the resistors.
Voltage: unequal distribution of ions across a membrane
Current: flow of ions across the membrane
Resistance: ion channels
Capacitance: neuron membrane eqwu
✔✔equilibrium potential - ✔✔The voltage across the membrane only one ion is able to
move in a mixed system or when chemical & electrical forces are equal and opposite
✔✔Nerst potential - ✔✔Equilibrium voltage at which chemical forces balance the
electrical forces, resulting in zero net ionic flow when a single ion species is considered
✔✔How is the resting potential maintained? (How do the ions move across the
membrane & why) - ✔✔There is an ongoing influx of Na+ and a matching efflux of K+
✔✔Know the contribution of Hodgkin & Huxley - ✔✔The axon experimentally to
accurately determine the resting and action potential a
✔✔Understand the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation - ✔✔The greater an ions
concentration and permeability, the more it contributes to resting membrane potential
