WGU D574 NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OA
PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• Spinal Cord.
Answer: Relays information between the brain and the rest of the body,
involved in reflexes.
• Hyperpolarization.
Answer: The membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting
potential.
• Microglia.
Answer: Act as the immune system of the brain, cleaning up dead neurons
and pathogens.
• Touch.
Answer: Involves mechanoreceptors in the skin, detecting pressure,
vibration, and texture.
• Difficulty initiating movement but normal completion involves what
structure?.
Answer: Basal ganglia.
• Which is an example of atypical cognitive functioning?.
Answer: Memory loss after brain injury.
• Higher-order visual areas (V2, V3, V4, MT).
Answer: Process more abstract features like motion, depth, and object
recognition.
• Supplementary Motor Area (SMA).
Answer: Involved in planning and coordinating complex movements.
• The limbic system is most associated with what functions?.
Answer: Emotion and memory - includes amygdala and hippocampus.
,• Neurotransmitters.
Answer: Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap to transmit
signals.
• Misidentifying an object due to expectations is an example of what?.
Answer: Top-down processing.
• Which brain area initiates voluntary movement?.
Answer: Motor cortex.
• Huntington's Disease.
Answer: A genetic disorder causing damage to the basal ganglia, leading to
involuntary movements (chorea), cognitive decline, and psychiatric
symptoms.
• Motor cortex sends signals through what?.
Answer: Spinal cord.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG).
Answer: Measures electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on
the scalp.
• Outer ear (pinna).
Answer: Collects sound and funnels it into the ear canal.
• Which neurotransmitter is most involved in motor control?.
Answer: Dopamine.
• Brain structure abnormalities.
Answer: Abnormalities or injuries to specific brain regions that can be
linked to disorders like PTSD or mood disorders.
• Binaural hearing.
Answer: Allows for localization of sound based on differences in timing and
intensity between both ears.
• Cerebrum.
Answer: Higher brain functions like thinking, memory, and
, decision-making.
• Which best demonstrates localization of function?.
Answer: Memory loss after hippocampal damage.
• Long-term potentiation (LTP).
Answer: Strengthening of synapses after repeated stimulation, believed to be
the cellular basis of memory.
• What is the primary function of neurons?.
Answer: Transmit information.
• Cognitive function.
Answer: Refers to mental processes like thinking, reasoning, memory,
attention, and problem-solving.
• Motion Perception.
Answer: Involves the dorsal stream (the 'where/how' pathway) that
processes information about movement and spatial location.
• Parietal lobe.
Answer: Sensory processing, spatial orientation.
• Brain structure and connectivity.
Answer: Refers to the organization and connections of brain regions, such as
the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
• Which occurs first when touching a hot surface?.
Answer: Sensation - detection occurs before interpretation.
• Five basic tastes.
Answer: Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami.
• Synapse.
Answer: The junction where one neuron communicates with another.
• Cerebral Palsy.
Answer: A group of movement disorders caused by brain damage, often
affecting muscle tone, coordination, and posture.
PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• Spinal Cord.
Answer: Relays information between the brain and the rest of the body,
involved in reflexes.
• Hyperpolarization.
Answer: The membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting
potential.
• Microglia.
Answer: Act as the immune system of the brain, cleaning up dead neurons
and pathogens.
• Touch.
Answer: Involves mechanoreceptors in the skin, detecting pressure,
vibration, and texture.
• Difficulty initiating movement but normal completion involves what
structure?.
Answer: Basal ganglia.
• Which is an example of atypical cognitive functioning?.
Answer: Memory loss after brain injury.
• Higher-order visual areas (V2, V3, V4, MT).
Answer: Process more abstract features like motion, depth, and object
recognition.
• Supplementary Motor Area (SMA).
Answer: Involved in planning and coordinating complex movements.
• The limbic system is most associated with what functions?.
Answer: Emotion and memory - includes amygdala and hippocampus.
,• Neurotransmitters.
Answer: Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap to transmit
signals.
• Misidentifying an object due to expectations is an example of what?.
Answer: Top-down processing.
• Which brain area initiates voluntary movement?.
Answer: Motor cortex.
• Huntington's Disease.
Answer: A genetic disorder causing damage to the basal ganglia, leading to
involuntary movements (chorea), cognitive decline, and psychiatric
symptoms.
• Motor cortex sends signals through what?.
Answer: Spinal cord.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG).
Answer: Measures electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on
the scalp.
• Outer ear (pinna).
Answer: Collects sound and funnels it into the ear canal.
• Which neurotransmitter is most involved in motor control?.
Answer: Dopamine.
• Brain structure abnormalities.
Answer: Abnormalities or injuries to specific brain regions that can be
linked to disorders like PTSD or mood disorders.
• Binaural hearing.
Answer: Allows for localization of sound based on differences in timing and
intensity between both ears.
• Cerebrum.
Answer: Higher brain functions like thinking, memory, and
, decision-making.
• Which best demonstrates localization of function?.
Answer: Memory loss after hippocampal damage.
• Long-term potentiation (LTP).
Answer: Strengthening of synapses after repeated stimulation, believed to be
the cellular basis of memory.
• What is the primary function of neurons?.
Answer: Transmit information.
• Cognitive function.
Answer: Refers to mental processes like thinking, reasoning, memory,
attention, and problem-solving.
• Motion Perception.
Answer: Involves the dorsal stream (the 'where/how' pathway) that
processes information about movement and spatial location.
• Parietal lobe.
Answer: Sensory processing, spatial orientation.
• Brain structure and connectivity.
Answer: Refers to the organization and connections of brain regions, such as
the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
• Which occurs first when touching a hot surface?.
Answer: Sensation - detection occurs before interpretation.
• Five basic tastes.
Answer: Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami.
• Synapse.
Answer: The junction where one neuron communicates with another.
• Cerebral Palsy.
Answer: A group of movement disorders caused by brain damage, often
affecting muscle tone, coordination, and posture.
