Neurocognition Practice MCQ Exam
Week 1
1. Park and Bischof (2013) considers the neuroplasticity of the aging brain. Which
statement below best describes a conclusion they came to?
a) Neuroplasticity can be observed in younger adults though not in older adults.
b) Cognitive training is an effective way to directly increase neuroplasticity and
improve functioning in daily life.
c) Despite deterioration associated with typical aging, the brain is able to regulate
cognitive function through neural scaffolding.
d) Changes in brain activation in response to cognitive training indicates neural
plasticity more so than strategy change.
2. According to the Scaffolding Theory of Aging & Cognition (STAC), what is meant by
compensatory scaffolding?
a) An increase in thickness of neural structures as a result of cognitive training
b) The recruitment of additional circuitry that supports declining brain function
c) The transient process by which cells become less specialised
d) An increased supply of neural resources created as a result of experiences
3. Where is the Broca’s area located? (Chapter 5)
a) Frontal lobe
b) Parietal lobe
c) Temporal lobe
d) Occipital lobe
4. Which statement about lateralization of the two hemispheres is not true?
a) It is relatively agreed on that the right and left hemispheres have different
functions.
b) The left hemisphere controls motor functions for the right side of the body, while
the right hemisphere controls the left side.
c) The right hemisphere is more involved in language processing and analytical
tasks.
d) While certain functions are lateralised, both hemispheres work together and
communicate through the corpus callosum.
5. Which of following is not a structure of the medial temporal lobe?
a) Thalamus
b) Hippocampus
c) Entorhinal cortex
d) Amygdala
6. In the course of human brain development, we can observe rise and fall patterns in
terms of experience-dependent synapse formation and dendritic arborization. These
patterns occur at different times for different brain regions, which of the following
peaks last? (Chapter 15)
, a) Prefrontal cortex
b) Parietal cortex
c) Temporal association cortex
d) Sensorimotor cortex
7. Are the following statements true or false? (Lecture 1)
1. The modular concept of the brain considers that each function is implemented
by a combination of regions, while the network concept considers that each area
has its own function.
2. For increasingly complex behaviour, more and more of the brain will be involved.
a) Both statements are true
b) Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is false
c) Statement 1 is false, Statement 2 is true
d) Both statements are false
8. What brain changes can be seen in a patient with Alzheimer’s disease?
a) Extreme shrinkage of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
b) Reduced volume in the basal ganglia with degeneration of neurons in the
substantia nigra.
c) Atrophy of the basal ganglia with significant shrinkage particularly in the caudate
nucleus and putamen.
d) Cortical thinning and apoptosis.
9. What brain changes can be seen in a patient with Parkinson’s disease?
a) Extreme shrinkage of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
b) Reduced volume in the basal ganglia with degeneration of neurons in the
substantia nigra.
c) Atrophy of the basal ganglia with significant shrinkage particularly in the caudate
nucleus and putamen.
d) Cortical thinning and apoptosis.
10. What brain changes can be seen in a patient with Huntington’s disease?
a) Extreme shrinkage of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
b) Reduced volume in the basal ganglia with degeneration of neurons in the
substantia nigra.
c) Atrophy of the basal ganglia with significant shrinkage particularly in the caudate
nucleus and putamen.
d) Cortical thinning and apoptosis.
11. The reserve hypothesis…
a) States that brain reserve is fixed while cognitive reserve is not.
b) Posits that a person with high reserve will avoid the development of
neuropathology.
, c) Addresses individual differences in the relationship between observed brain
pathology and symptomatology.
d) Emphasize that social support and education are the primary critical factors in
determining presented behaviour based on brain symptomatology.
Week 2
12. Which of the following is a similarity between the emotional and cognitive systems?
(Gainotti, 2000)
a) Both systems operate as phylogenetically advanced adaptive systems.
b) Both systems process information at the same speed.
c) Both systems rely on complex, controlled, and conscious processing of stimuli.
d) Both systems are involved in thorough sensory processing.
13. Which of the following statements about the triune brain, introduced by MacLean, is
true? (Chapter 13)
a) The reptilian brain consists primarily of the limbic system and is inclined to
repeat instinctual behaviour, therefore not learning well from experience.
b) The mammalian brain contains certain regions that play major roles in emotion.
c) The mammalian brain is primarily responsible for basic survival instincts and
reflexes.
d) The primate brain, also known as the neocortex, controls cognitive processes as
well as survival activities.
14. Panskepp describes several emotional brain systems. One of them responds to
separation of young animals from their caregiver and activates crying and separation
calls. What system is this?
a) SEEKING
b) FEAR
c) RAGE
d) PANIC
15. LeDoux labeled 2 sensory pathways to the amygdala for the perception of fearful
stimuli. Which pathway is for high road processing?
a) Thalamo-hippocampal pathway
b) Cortico-amygdala pathway
c) Thalamo-amygdala pathway
d) Thalamo-cortico-amygdala pathway
16. A patient is not exhibiting physiological indicators of fear conditioning, such as heart
rate increases and electrodermal responses, even though they can remember the
specific events related to the fear conditioning. An MRI is carried out, what do you
expect to see?
a) Damaged amygdala, intact hippocampus.
b) Intact amygdala, damaged hippocampus.
c) Damaged prefrontal cortex, intact hippocampus.
d) Intact prefrontal cortex, damaged hippocampus.
Week 1
1. Park and Bischof (2013) considers the neuroplasticity of the aging brain. Which
statement below best describes a conclusion they came to?
a) Neuroplasticity can be observed in younger adults though not in older adults.
b) Cognitive training is an effective way to directly increase neuroplasticity and
improve functioning in daily life.
c) Despite deterioration associated with typical aging, the brain is able to regulate
cognitive function through neural scaffolding.
d) Changes in brain activation in response to cognitive training indicates neural
plasticity more so than strategy change.
2. According to the Scaffolding Theory of Aging & Cognition (STAC), what is meant by
compensatory scaffolding?
a) An increase in thickness of neural structures as a result of cognitive training
b) The recruitment of additional circuitry that supports declining brain function
c) The transient process by which cells become less specialised
d) An increased supply of neural resources created as a result of experiences
3. Where is the Broca’s area located? (Chapter 5)
a) Frontal lobe
b) Parietal lobe
c) Temporal lobe
d) Occipital lobe
4. Which statement about lateralization of the two hemispheres is not true?
a) It is relatively agreed on that the right and left hemispheres have different
functions.
b) The left hemisphere controls motor functions for the right side of the body, while
the right hemisphere controls the left side.
c) The right hemisphere is more involved in language processing and analytical
tasks.
d) While certain functions are lateralised, both hemispheres work together and
communicate through the corpus callosum.
5. Which of following is not a structure of the medial temporal lobe?
a) Thalamus
b) Hippocampus
c) Entorhinal cortex
d) Amygdala
6. In the course of human brain development, we can observe rise and fall patterns in
terms of experience-dependent synapse formation and dendritic arborization. These
patterns occur at different times for different brain regions, which of the following
peaks last? (Chapter 15)
, a) Prefrontal cortex
b) Parietal cortex
c) Temporal association cortex
d) Sensorimotor cortex
7. Are the following statements true or false? (Lecture 1)
1. The modular concept of the brain considers that each function is implemented
by a combination of regions, while the network concept considers that each area
has its own function.
2. For increasingly complex behaviour, more and more of the brain will be involved.
a) Both statements are true
b) Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is false
c) Statement 1 is false, Statement 2 is true
d) Both statements are false
8. What brain changes can be seen in a patient with Alzheimer’s disease?
a) Extreme shrinkage of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
b) Reduced volume in the basal ganglia with degeneration of neurons in the
substantia nigra.
c) Atrophy of the basal ganglia with significant shrinkage particularly in the caudate
nucleus and putamen.
d) Cortical thinning and apoptosis.
9. What brain changes can be seen in a patient with Parkinson’s disease?
a) Extreme shrinkage of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
b) Reduced volume in the basal ganglia with degeneration of neurons in the
substantia nigra.
c) Atrophy of the basal ganglia with significant shrinkage particularly in the caudate
nucleus and putamen.
d) Cortical thinning and apoptosis.
10. What brain changes can be seen in a patient with Huntington’s disease?
a) Extreme shrinkage of cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
b) Reduced volume in the basal ganglia with degeneration of neurons in the
substantia nigra.
c) Atrophy of the basal ganglia with significant shrinkage particularly in the caudate
nucleus and putamen.
d) Cortical thinning and apoptosis.
11. The reserve hypothesis…
a) States that brain reserve is fixed while cognitive reserve is not.
b) Posits that a person with high reserve will avoid the development of
neuropathology.
, c) Addresses individual differences in the relationship between observed brain
pathology and symptomatology.
d) Emphasize that social support and education are the primary critical factors in
determining presented behaviour based on brain symptomatology.
Week 2
12. Which of the following is a similarity between the emotional and cognitive systems?
(Gainotti, 2000)
a) Both systems operate as phylogenetically advanced adaptive systems.
b) Both systems process information at the same speed.
c) Both systems rely on complex, controlled, and conscious processing of stimuli.
d) Both systems are involved in thorough sensory processing.
13. Which of the following statements about the triune brain, introduced by MacLean, is
true? (Chapter 13)
a) The reptilian brain consists primarily of the limbic system and is inclined to
repeat instinctual behaviour, therefore not learning well from experience.
b) The mammalian brain contains certain regions that play major roles in emotion.
c) The mammalian brain is primarily responsible for basic survival instincts and
reflexes.
d) The primate brain, also known as the neocortex, controls cognitive processes as
well as survival activities.
14. Panskepp describes several emotional brain systems. One of them responds to
separation of young animals from their caregiver and activates crying and separation
calls. What system is this?
a) SEEKING
b) FEAR
c) RAGE
d) PANIC
15. LeDoux labeled 2 sensory pathways to the amygdala for the perception of fearful
stimuli. Which pathway is for high road processing?
a) Thalamo-hippocampal pathway
b) Cortico-amygdala pathway
c) Thalamo-amygdala pathway
d) Thalamo-cortico-amygdala pathway
16. A patient is not exhibiting physiological indicators of fear conditioning, such as heart
rate increases and electrodermal responses, even though they can remember the
specific events related to the fear conditioning. An MRI is carried out, what do you
expect to see?
a) Damaged amygdala, intact hippocampus.
b) Intact amygdala, damaged hippocampus.
c) Damaged prefrontal cortex, intact hippocampus.
d) Intact prefrontal cortex, damaged hippocampus.
