BIOL 322 NEUROSCIENCE LATEST UPDATED 2026-
2027 ACTUAL FINAL PRACTICE EXAM PREP WITH
ALL POSSIBLE TESTED COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES PLUS
CERTIFIED ANSWER KEY RATED A+ GRADE FREE
PDF ACCESS
1. The resting membrane potential of a typical
neuron is closest to:
A) -90 mV
B) -70 mV
C) -50 mV
D) 0 mV
Rationale: Resting potential is mainly set by K+
leak channels and is about -70 mV.
2. Which ion is primarily responsible for the rising
phase of the action potential?
A) K+
B) Na+
C) Cl-
D) Ca2+
,Rationale: Voltage-gated Na+ channels open,
causing rapid Na+ influx and depolarization.
3. The absolute refractory period is due to:
A) K+ channel inactivation
B) Na+ channel inactivation
C) Cl- channel opening
D) Ca2+ channel closing
Rationale: Inactivated Na+ channels cannot
reopen until repolarization.
4. Saltatory conduction occurs in:
A) Unmyelinated axons
B) Myelinated axons
C) Dendrites
D) Cell bodies
Rationale: Myelin sheaths force action potentials
to jump between nodes of Ranvier.
5. Which glial cell produces myelin in the peripheral
nervous system?
A) Oligodendrocyte
B) Schwann cell
C) Astrocyte
D) Microglia
,Rationale: Schwann cells myelinate PNS axons;
oligodendrocytes do so in the CNS.
6. The threshold for action potential initiation is
typically:
A) -90 mV
B) -70 mV
C) -55 mV
D) -40 mV
Rationale: At about -55 mV, voltage-gated Na+
channels open sufficiently to trigger an action
potential.
7. Hyperpolarization following an action potential is
caused by:
A) Na+ influx
B) K+ efflux
C) Cl- influx
D) Ca2+ influx
Rationale: Slow K+ channels remain open, causing
afterhyperpolarization.
8. Which of the following is a second messenger in
signal transduction?
A) Na+
, B) cAMP
C) K+
D) Cl-
Rationale: cAMP is a classic second messenger
activated by G-proteins.
9. EPSPs are caused by:
A) Cl- influx
B) Na+ influx
C) K+ efflux
D) Ca2+ efflux
Rationale: Excitatory postsynaptic potentials result
from Na+ influx, depolarizing the membrane.
10. IPSPs are typically caused by:
A) Na+ influx
B) Ca2+ influx
C) Cl- influx
D) K+ influx
Rationale: Cl- influx hyperpolarizes the
membrane, inhibiting firing.
11. Temporal summation refers to:
A) Multiple synapses firing simultaneously
B) Repeated firing at one synapse
2027 ACTUAL FINAL PRACTICE EXAM PREP WITH
ALL POSSIBLE TESTED COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES PLUS
CERTIFIED ANSWER KEY RATED A+ GRADE FREE
PDF ACCESS
1. The resting membrane potential of a typical
neuron is closest to:
A) -90 mV
B) -70 mV
C) -50 mV
D) 0 mV
Rationale: Resting potential is mainly set by K+
leak channels and is about -70 mV.
2. Which ion is primarily responsible for the rising
phase of the action potential?
A) K+
B) Na+
C) Cl-
D) Ca2+
,Rationale: Voltage-gated Na+ channels open,
causing rapid Na+ influx and depolarization.
3. The absolute refractory period is due to:
A) K+ channel inactivation
B) Na+ channel inactivation
C) Cl- channel opening
D) Ca2+ channel closing
Rationale: Inactivated Na+ channels cannot
reopen until repolarization.
4. Saltatory conduction occurs in:
A) Unmyelinated axons
B) Myelinated axons
C) Dendrites
D) Cell bodies
Rationale: Myelin sheaths force action potentials
to jump between nodes of Ranvier.
5. Which glial cell produces myelin in the peripheral
nervous system?
A) Oligodendrocyte
B) Schwann cell
C) Astrocyte
D) Microglia
,Rationale: Schwann cells myelinate PNS axons;
oligodendrocytes do so in the CNS.
6. The threshold for action potential initiation is
typically:
A) -90 mV
B) -70 mV
C) -55 mV
D) -40 mV
Rationale: At about -55 mV, voltage-gated Na+
channels open sufficiently to trigger an action
potential.
7. Hyperpolarization following an action potential is
caused by:
A) Na+ influx
B) K+ efflux
C) Cl- influx
D) Ca2+ influx
Rationale: Slow K+ channels remain open, causing
afterhyperpolarization.
8. Which of the following is a second messenger in
signal transduction?
A) Na+
, B) cAMP
C) K+
D) Cl-
Rationale: cAMP is a classic second messenger
activated by G-proteins.
9. EPSPs are caused by:
A) Cl- influx
B) Na+ influx
C) K+ efflux
D) Ca2+ efflux
Rationale: Excitatory postsynaptic potentials result
from Na+ influx, depolarizing the membrane.
10. IPSPs are typically caused by:
A) Na+ influx
B) Ca2+ influx
C) Cl- influx
D) K+ influx
Rationale: Cl- influx hyperpolarizes the
membrane, inhibiting firing.
11. Temporal summation refers to:
A) Multiple synapses firing simultaneously
B) Repeated firing at one synapse
