PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
PSYC 302: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY | LATEST EXAM
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS - VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026/2027
1. A patient with damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus speaks slowly
and effortfully but understands most of what is said to him. Which
region is most likely damaged?
A. Arcuate fasciculus
B. Wernicke's area
C. Angular gyrus
D. Broca's area
ANSWER : D. Broca's area
Broca's area lies in the left inferior frontal gyrus and supports speech
production; damage leaves comprehension relatively intact.
2. Which part of the neuron integrates incoming signals and determines
whether an action potential will be generated?
A. Axon hillock
B. Myelin sheath
C. Terminal button
D. Node of Ranvier
ANSWER : A. Axon hillock
The axon hillock has a high density of voltage-gated sodium channels and is
where summed graded potentials trigger firing.
Page 1 of 51
, PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
3. The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is
approximately:
A. +40 mV
B. -70 mV
C. -90 mV
D. 0 mV
ANSWER : B. -70 mV
Most neurons rest near -70 mV because of potassium leak and the sodium-
potassium pump.
4. During the rising phase of the action potential, which ion moves into
the cell?
A. Potassium
B. Chloride
C. Calcium
D. Sodium
ANSWER : D. Sodium
Voltage-gated sodium channels open and Na+ rushes in, depolarizing the
membrane.
5. The sodium-potassium pump moves ions in which ratio for each ATP
used?
A. 1 Na+ out, 1 K+ in
B. 2 Na+ out, 3 K+ in
C. 3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in
D. 3 Na+ in, 2 K+ out
ANSWER : C. 3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in
The pump exports three sodium ions and imports two potassium ions,
helping maintain the resting gradient.
Page 2 of 51
, PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
6. Saltatory conduction refers to:
A. The action potential jumping between nodes of Ranvier
B. Passive spread of graded potentials along dendrites
C. Reuptake of transmitter into the presynaptic cell
D. Release of neurotransmitter in quanta
ANSWER : A. The action potential jumping between nodes of Ranvier
In myelinated axons, the impulse is regenerated only at the nodes, which
speeds conduction considerably.
7. Which glial cells form myelin in the central nervous system?
A. Schwann cells
B. Microglia
C. Oligodendrocytes
D. Astrocytes
ANSWER : C. Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes myelinate CNS axons; Schwann cells do the same job in the
peripheral nervous system.
8. Which glial cells act as the immune defense of the central nervous
system?
A. Oligodendrocytes
B. Radial glia
C. Ependymal cells
D. Microglia
ANSWER : D. Microglia
Microglia remove debris and dead cells and respond to infection or injury in
the brain.
9. The absolute refractory period occurs because:
A. Potassium channels are permanently closed
B. Voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated
C. The myelin sheath blocks ion flow
D. Neurotransmitter is depleted
ANSWER : B. Voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated
Inactivated sodium channels cannot reopen until the membrane repolarizes,
so no new spike can occur.
Page 3 of 51
, PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
10. An inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) usually results from:
A. Influx of calcium only
B. Influx of sodium
C. Activation of the sodium-potassium pump
D. Influx of chloride or efflux of potassium
ANSWER : D. Influx of chloride or efflux of potassium
Cl- entry or K+ exit hyperpolarizes the membrane, making firing less likely.
11. Neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic terminal is directly
triggered by the entry of:
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Sodium
D. Chloride
ANSWER : B. Calcium
Calcium entering through voltage-gated channels causes vesicles to fuse with
the membrane and release transmitter.
12. Summation of postsynaptic potentials arriving close together in
time at one synapse is called:
A. Spatial summation
B. Temporal summation
C. Reciprocal inhibition
D. Saltatory summation
ANSWER : B. Temporal summation
Temporal summation occurs when repeated inputs from the same location
add together before decaying.
13. Spatial summation involves:
A. Combining inputs from several synapses at the same time
B. Conduction along myelinated axons
C. Repeated stimulation of a single synapse
D. Release of hormones into the bloodstream
ANSWER : A. Combining inputs from several synapses at the same time
Simultaneous inputs at different locations on the neuron sum together.
Page 4 of 51
PSYC 302: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY | LATEST EXAM
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS - VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026/2027
1. A patient with damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus speaks slowly
and effortfully but understands most of what is said to him. Which
region is most likely damaged?
A. Arcuate fasciculus
B. Wernicke's area
C. Angular gyrus
D. Broca's area
ANSWER : D. Broca's area
Broca's area lies in the left inferior frontal gyrus and supports speech
production; damage leaves comprehension relatively intact.
2. Which part of the neuron integrates incoming signals and determines
whether an action potential will be generated?
A. Axon hillock
B. Myelin sheath
C. Terminal button
D. Node of Ranvier
ANSWER : A. Axon hillock
The axon hillock has a high density of voltage-gated sodium channels and is
where summed graded potentials trigger firing.
Page 1 of 51
, PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
3. The resting membrane potential of a typical neuron is
approximately:
A. +40 mV
B. -70 mV
C. -90 mV
D. 0 mV
ANSWER : B. -70 mV
Most neurons rest near -70 mV because of potassium leak and the sodium-
potassium pump.
4. During the rising phase of the action potential, which ion moves into
the cell?
A. Potassium
B. Chloride
C. Calcium
D. Sodium
ANSWER : D. Sodium
Voltage-gated sodium channels open and Na+ rushes in, depolarizing the
membrane.
5. The sodium-potassium pump moves ions in which ratio for each ATP
used?
A. 1 Na+ out, 1 K+ in
B. 2 Na+ out, 3 K+ in
C. 3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in
D. 3 Na+ in, 2 K+ out
ANSWER : C. 3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in
The pump exports three sodium ions and imports two potassium ions,
helping maintain the resting gradient.
Page 2 of 51
, PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
6. Saltatory conduction refers to:
A. The action potential jumping between nodes of Ranvier
B. Passive spread of graded potentials along dendrites
C. Reuptake of transmitter into the presynaptic cell
D. Release of neurotransmitter in quanta
ANSWER : A. The action potential jumping between nodes of Ranvier
In myelinated axons, the impulse is regenerated only at the nodes, which
speeds conduction considerably.
7. Which glial cells form myelin in the central nervous system?
A. Schwann cells
B. Microglia
C. Oligodendrocytes
D. Astrocytes
ANSWER : C. Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes myelinate CNS axons; Schwann cells do the same job in the
peripheral nervous system.
8. Which glial cells act as the immune defense of the central nervous
system?
A. Oligodendrocytes
B. Radial glia
C. Ependymal cells
D. Microglia
ANSWER : D. Microglia
Microglia remove debris and dead cells and respond to infection or injury in
the brain.
9. The absolute refractory period occurs because:
A. Potassium channels are permanently closed
B. Voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated
C. The myelin sheath blocks ion flow
D. Neurotransmitter is depleted
ANSWER : B. Voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated
Inactivated sodium channels cannot reopen until the membrane repolarizes,
so no new spike can occur.
Page 3 of 51
, PSYC 302 Biological Psychology
10. An inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) usually results from:
A. Influx of calcium only
B. Influx of sodium
C. Activation of the sodium-potassium pump
D. Influx of chloride or efflux of potassium
ANSWER : D. Influx of chloride or efflux of potassium
Cl- entry or K+ exit hyperpolarizes the membrane, making firing less likely.
11. Neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic terminal is directly
triggered by the entry of:
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Sodium
D. Chloride
ANSWER : B. Calcium
Calcium entering through voltage-gated channels causes vesicles to fuse with
the membrane and release transmitter.
12. Summation of postsynaptic potentials arriving close together in
time at one synapse is called:
A. Spatial summation
B. Temporal summation
C. Reciprocal inhibition
D. Saltatory summation
ANSWER : B. Temporal summation
Temporal summation occurs when repeated inputs from the same location
add together before decaying.
13. Spatial summation involves:
A. Combining inputs from several synapses at the same time
B. Conduction along myelinated axons
C. Repeated stimulation of a single synapse
D. Release of hormones into the bloodstream
ANSWER : A. Combining inputs from several synapses at the same time
Simultaneous inputs at different locations on the neuron sum together.
Page 4 of 51
