NBME Behavioral Science Ultimate
Study Guide 2025/2026: Master High-
Yield Concepts to Pass on Your First
Attempt
In a clinical trial, the primary reason to blind treatment
assignments is to [promote or reduce] observer bias
reduce observer bias
The concordance rate for manic-depressive psychosis
in identical twins is at least [equal or twice] that for
nonidentical twins
at least twice that for nonidentical twins
If a patient with Down syndrome has a normal count
of 46 chromosomes, the genetic abnormality is
probably the result of a [translocation or
nondisjunction]
a translocation
Hypnagogic phenomena occur in subjects who are
[on the verge of falling asleep or in a deep sleep]
on the verge of falling asleep
Decreased ability to plan or organize, increased
impulsivity, and inappropriateness of affect is most
often associated with lesions of the [
hippocampus-fornix-mammillary body complex
OR
orbital-frontal and temporal cortexes]
,orbital-frontal and temporal cortexes
With respect to affective disorders, the catecholamine
hypothesis states that mood swings are associated
with changes in which of the following substances in
the brain?
[Dopamine or Norepinephrine]
Norepinephrine
Onset of rapid eye movement during the first 10
minutes of sleep is a characteristic finding in patients
with [narcolepsy or taking barbiturates]
narcolepsy
Which of the following is LEAST likely to produce
physiologic withdrawal symptoms?
(A) Alcohol (B) Barbiturates (C) Cocaine (D) Heroin (E)
Morphine
(C) Cocaine
In patients with schizophrenia, disordered thinking
and perception are most consistently associated with
increased activity of which of the following systems?
[Cholinergic or Dopaminergic]
Dopaminergic
The area of the brain most closely associated with
recent memory is the [hippocampus or frontal cortex]
hippocampus
Imipramine is NOT indicated for management of
[enuresis or schizophrenia]
schizophrenia
,Administration of which of the following drugs for a
number of years is most likely to produce lip
smacking and random tongue protrusion?
[Lithium carbonate or Haloperidol]
Haloperidol
Each of the following is an effect of amphetamines
EXCEPT
(A) a decrease in appetite
(B) a decrease in symptoms of depression
(C) miosis
(D) psychosis resembling schizophrenia
(E) relief of narcolepsy
miosis
The disorder most closely related to REM sleep is
(A) insomnia
(B) narcolepsy
(C) night terrors
(D) nocturnal enuresis
(E) somnambulism
narcolepsy
Women with spinal cord transection above L-1 cannot
experience [sexual feeling or physical orgasm]
experience physical orgasm
The condition in which there is the LEAST current
evidence for environmental contributing factors is
(A) diabetes mellitus, type I
(B) muscular dystrophy
, (C) peptic ulcer
(D) schizophrenia
(E) thyrotoxicosis
(B) muscular dystrophy
Studies of which of the following best document
cerebral hemisphere specialization?
(A) Autonomic responsiveness
(B) Cognitive responses to stress
(C) Eye fixation
(D) Language
(E) Right- and left-handedness
(D) Language
The successful resolution of grief following the death
of a close relative is LEAST likely to involve
(A) development of firm acceptance that the person is
dead
(B) discussion of feelings of guilt and anger about the
dead person
(C) identification of emotional investments in the dead
(D) maintenance of firm control over one's own
emotional responses
(E) reallocation of emotional investments among
living friends and relatives
(D) maintenance of firm control over one's own emotional
responses
Stimulus generalization refers to
[the occurrence of intermodality generalization
Study Guide 2025/2026: Master High-
Yield Concepts to Pass on Your First
Attempt
In a clinical trial, the primary reason to blind treatment
assignments is to [promote or reduce] observer bias
reduce observer bias
The concordance rate for manic-depressive psychosis
in identical twins is at least [equal or twice] that for
nonidentical twins
at least twice that for nonidentical twins
If a patient with Down syndrome has a normal count
of 46 chromosomes, the genetic abnormality is
probably the result of a [translocation or
nondisjunction]
a translocation
Hypnagogic phenomena occur in subjects who are
[on the verge of falling asleep or in a deep sleep]
on the verge of falling asleep
Decreased ability to plan or organize, increased
impulsivity, and inappropriateness of affect is most
often associated with lesions of the [
hippocampus-fornix-mammillary body complex
OR
orbital-frontal and temporal cortexes]
,orbital-frontal and temporal cortexes
With respect to affective disorders, the catecholamine
hypothesis states that mood swings are associated
with changes in which of the following substances in
the brain?
[Dopamine or Norepinephrine]
Norepinephrine
Onset of rapid eye movement during the first 10
minutes of sleep is a characteristic finding in patients
with [narcolepsy or taking barbiturates]
narcolepsy
Which of the following is LEAST likely to produce
physiologic withdrawal symptoms?
(A) Alcohol (B) Barbiturates (C) Cocaine (D) Heroin (E)
Morphine
(C) Cocaine
In patients with schizophrenia, disordered thinking
and perception are most consistently associated with
increased activity of which of the following systems?
[Cholinergic or Dopaminergic]
Dopaminergic
The area of the brain most closely associated with
recent memory is the [hippocampus or frontal cortex]
hippocampus
Imipramine is NOT indicated for management of
[enuresis or schizophrenia]
schizophrenia
,Administration of which of the following drugs for a
number of years is most likely to produce lip
smacking and random tongue protrusion?
[Lithium carbonate or Haloperidol]
Haloperidol
Each of the following is an effect of amphetamines
EXCEPT
(A) a decrease in appetite
(B) a decrease in symptoms of depression
(C) miosis
(D) psychosis resembling schizophrenia
(E) relief of narcolepsy
miosis
The disorder most closely related to REM sleep is
(A) insomnia
(B) narcolepsy
(C) night terrors
(D) nocturnal enuresis
(E) somnambulism
narcolepsy
Women with spinal cord transection above L-1 cannot
experience [sexual feeling or physical orgasm]
experience physical orgasm
The condition in which there is the LEAST current
evidence for environmental contributing factors is
(A) diabetes mellitus, type I
(B) muscular dystrophy
, (C) peptic ulcer
(D) schizophrenia
(E) thyrotoxicosis
(B) muscular dystrophy
Studies of which of the following best document
cerebral hemisphere specialization?
(A) Autonomic responsiveness
(B) Cognitive responses to stress
(C) Eye fixation
(D) Language
(E) Right- and left-handedness
(D) Language
The successful resolution of grief following the death
of a close relative is LEAST likely to involve
(A) development of firm acceptance that the person is
dead
(B) discussion of feelings of guilt and anger about the
dead person
(C) identification of emotional investments in the dead
(D) maintenance of firm control over one's own
emotional responses
(E) reallocation of emotional investments among
living friends and relatives
(D) maintenance of firm control over one's own emotional
responses
Stimulus generalization refers to
[the occurrence of intermodality generalization
