COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE KEY PASSED
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ why do we have alpha & gamma fibers in muscle spindles?
Answer: so intra & extrafusal muscle fibers contract together &
muscle spindle maintains sensitivity to any further stretch
◉ GTO are activated by:
Answer: tension
- stretch
- muscle contraction
◉ if you activate muscle spindle, what does the muscle do? what
about GTO?
Answer: muscle spindle > muscle contraction
GTO > muscle relaxes
◉ joint receptors detect:
Answer: mechanosensation in joint (stretch, tension)
pain
,◉ touch receptors are innervated by what type of sensory axons?
Answer: II (A-beta)
◉ Ligament receptors are innervated by:
Answer: Ib endings
◉ GTO innervated by:
Answer: Ib
◉ Ruffini's and paciniform endings innervated by:
Answer: Type II
◉ summary slide to review
Answer:
◉ A delta transmits:
Answer: fast pain & cold
◉ C fibers transmit:
Answer: slow pain & heat
◉ Type Ia & Ib (largest diameter) transmit:
,Answer: muscle stretch, tendon & ligament tension
◉ high fidelity transmission
Answer: provides accurate details regarding the location of the
stimulation along pathway to brain
◉ which neurons count when describing pathways in brain?
Answer: neurons with long axons that connect distant regions of the
nervous system (projection neurons)
◉ tract
Answer: bundle of axons with same origin & common termination
◉ somatosensory pathways named for:
Answer: origin and termination of the tract that contains the second
neuron in the series.
◉ 3 types of pathways bringing sensory info to brain
Answer: - conscious relay
*big ones to know!
- divergent (diffuse systems)
- unconscious relay
, ◉ characteristics of conscious relay pathways
Answer: - transmit info to many locations in brainstem & cerebrum
- # of neurons varies, but usually 3
- high fidelity transmission
- can make fine distinctions about stimuli
◉ characteristics of divergent pathways
Answer: - transmitted to many locations
- varying # of neurons
- both conscious & unconscious
- aching pain is example of this
◉ unconscious relay pathway characteristics
Answer: - goes to cerebellum
- doesn't reach consciousness
- essential role in automatic adjustments of movement & posture
◉ 4 types of somatosensation (all conscious)
Answer: touch
proprioception
temp
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ why do we have alpha & gamma fibers in muscle spindles?
Answer: so intra & extrafusal muscle fibers contract together &
muscle spindle maintains sensitivity to any further stretch
◉ GTO are activated by:
Answer: tension
- stretch
- muscle contraction
◉ if you activate muscle spindle, what does the muscle do? what
about GTO?
Answer: muscle spindle > muscle contraction
GTO > muscle relaxes
◉ joint receptors detect:
Answer: mechanosensation in joint (stretch, tension)
pain
,◉ touch receptors are innervated by what type of sensory axons?
Answer: II (A-beta)
◉ Ligament receptors are innervated by:
Answer: Ib endings
◉ GTO innervated by:
Answer: Ib
◉ Ruffini's and paciniform endings innervated by:
Answer: Type II
◉ summary slide to review
Answer:
◉ A delta transmits:
Answer: fast pain & cold
◉ C fibers transmit:
Answer: slow pain & heat
◉ Type Ia & Ib (largest diameter) transmit:
,Answer: muscle stretch, tendon & ligament tension
◉ high fidelity transmission
Answer: provides accurate details regarding the location of the
stimulation along pathway to brain
◉ which neurons count when describing pathways in brain?
Answer: neurons with long axons that connect distant regions of the
nervous system (projection neurons)
◉ tract
Answer: bundle of axons with same origin & common termination
◉ somatosensory pathways named for:
Answer: origin and termination of the tract that contains the second
neuron in the series.
◉ 3 types of pathways bringing sensory info to brain
Answer: - conscious relay
*big ones to know!
- divergent (diffuse systems)
- unconscious relay
, ◉ characteristics of conscious relay pathways
Answer: - transmit info to many locations in brainstem & cerebrum
- # of neurons varies, but usually 3
- high fidelity transmission
- can make fine distinctions about stimuli
◉ characteristics of divergent pathways
Answer: - transmitted to many locations
- varying # of neurons
- both conscious & unconscious
- aching pain is example of this
◉ unconscious relay pathway characteristics
Answer: - goes to cerebellum
- doesn't reach consciousness
- essential role in automatic adjustments of movement & posture
◉ 4 types of somatosensation (all conscious)
Answer: touch
proprioception
temp
