Deck 15: Neuropsychology

Question 1

Alzheimer's disease involves several changes in the brain.Which of the following is not one of the affected structures? 

A)neurofibrillary tangles 
B)beta amyloid proteins 
C)extrapyramidal cells 
D)tau proteins

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A cerebral hemorrhage is 

A)blockage resulting from material that doesn't move from its point of origin. 
B)blockage resulting from material that travels to smaller diameter blood vessels until it has to stop. 
C)bleeding in the brain. 
D)an area of dead neurons.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Reactive neuroplasticity involves structural changes in the brain due to learning. 

Answer 3

False

Question 4

About 40 percent of people over the age of 75 years will suffer from Alzheimer's disease. 

Question 5

The herpes simplex virus responsible for cold sores and genital herpes can produce a type of secondary encephalitis.

Question 6

When low oxygen levels result from insufficiency in the blood supply to the brain,the resulting condition is known as 

A)ischemia. 
B)aneurysm. 
C)arteriovenous malformation. 
D)cavernous malformation.

Question 7

Some hemorrhages may result from 

A)embolisms. 
B)thrombosis. 
C)low blood pressure. 
D)aneurysms.

Question 8

Migraine headaches can result from information carried by the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V)from the brainstem to the meninges.

Question 9

A concussion is a type of open head injury.

Question 10

Among the primary risk factors for stroke are 

A)low blood pressure and sodium insufficiency. 
B)sleep deprivation. 
C)obesity and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 
D)unusually low cholesterol levels.

Question 11

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)can be transmitted from one patient to another due to inadequate sterilization of hospital equipment.

Question 12

Partial seizures are frequently accompanied by an aura,but generalized seizures typically occur without an aura.

Question 13

Larger numbers of strokes result from ischemia than from cerebral hemorrhages.

Question 14

Joseph is 78 years of age,and the recent appearance of certain cognitive symptoms has led his physician to diagnose him with Alzheimer's disease.Which of the following statements would be the most accurate with regard to Joseph's situation? 

A)Joseph should begin receiving passive chemotherapy treatment, as this has been found to reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. 
B)Joseph should be very concerned that his wife will develop the same symptoms, as the disease has been found to be contagious. 
C)The risk of his symptoms getting worse will decrease the longer Joseph survives. 
D)A definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease will not be possible until an autopsy is conducted after Joseph's death.

Question 15

The Kennard Principle appears to predict recovery of language functions,but not necessarily other types of cognitive function,following brain damage.

Question 16

Strokes occur when the blood supply is affected by 

A)low blood pressure (hypotension). 
B)hemorrhage or blockage. 
C)death of adjacent neurons. 
D)the presence of infarcts.

Question 17

Most neuropsychologists are 

A)specialists among psychiatrists who have medical doctor (M.D.) degrees. 
B)specialists among neurologists who have medical doctor (M.D.) degrees. 
C)licensed clinical psychologists who have special training in the neurosciences. 
D)masters level psychologists who hold licenses in counseling.

Question 18

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that results in the destruction of Schwann cells.

Question 19

The Halstead-Reitan battery is used to assess 

A)cognitive function. 
B)reflexes. 
C)sensation. 
D)coma.

Question 20

The vast majority of those diagnosed with dementia - between 60 and 90 percent - suffer from ________ disease.

A)Huntington's 
B)Klinefelter's 
C)Parkinson's 
D)Alzheimer's

Question 21

Open head injuries are most likely to be fatal when the damage 

A)involves both hemispheres of the brain. 
B)is localized in one hemisphere of the brain. 
C)does not involve the ventricles. 
D)affects a single lobe rather than multiple lobes.

Question 22

Olney's concept of excitotoxicity suggests that most neural death in ischemia is due to 

A)excess cholinergic activity. 
B)insufficient GABA activity. 
C)insufficient glutamate activity. 
D)excess glutamate activity.d

Question 23

Following ischemia,neural damage is found 

A)equally distributed throughout the brain. 
B)primarily in the hippocampus and in middle layers of the cortex. 
C)primarily in the hippocampus and inner layers of the cortex. 
D)primarily in subcortical areas.

Question 24

The area of neural tissue that dies following a stroke or other interruption of cerebral blood flow is known as the 

A)infarct. 
B)aneurysm. 
C)thrombosis. 
D)embolism.

Question 25

An embolism is 

A)a blockage resulting from material that doesn't move from its point of origin. 
B)a blockage resulting from material that travels to smaller diameter blood vessels until it has to stop. 
C)bleeding in the brain. 
D)an area of dead neurons.

Question 26

Major causes of open head injuries in the United States include 

A)boxing and playing football. 
B)gunshot wounds and skull fractures. 
C)playing soccer. 
D)aneurysms.

Question 27

Multiple small strokes 

A)typically are no cause for concern. 
B)are not predictive of later larger strokes. 
C)can produce significant damage. 
D)do not produce true infarcts.

Question 28

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) 

A)produce symptoms of stroke lasting less than 24 hours. 
B)produce very mild stroke symptoms that last indefinitely. 
C)are typically fatal within a few hours. 
D)are very common and do not require medical treatment.

Question 29

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)are 

A)rarely predictive of later strokes. 
B)strong predictors of later strokes. 
C)predictive of further TIAs, but not full strokes. 
D)negatively correlated with the occurrence of later strokes.

Question 30

Closed head injuries,or concussions,are characterized by 

A)injury without penetration of the skull. 
B)lack of a coup and countercoup. 
C)penetration of the skull. 
D)no loss of consciousness.

Question 31

In cultures of rat hippocampal cells,cell death due to oxygen deprivation can be reduced by applications of 

A)magnesium. 
B)calcium. 
C)glutamate. 
D)GABA.

Question 32

Open head injuries are characterized by 

A)the existence of a coup and countercoup. 
B)the development of subdural hematomas. 
C)penetration of the skull. 
D)injury without penetration of the skull.

Question 33

A balloon-like bulge in an artery is known as a(n) 

A)aneurysm. 
B)embolism. 
C)thrombosis. 
D)cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

Question 34

Oxygen deprivation in neurons leads to a "cascade" of enzyme activity triggered by abnormally 

A)high levels of sodium activity. 
B)low levels of sodium activity. 
C)high levels of calcium activity. 
D)high levels of potassium activity.

Question 35

Cells in culture that are deprived of oxygen are more likely to survive in the presence of 

A)GABA agonists. 
B)GABA antagonists. 
C)glutamate agonists. 
D)glutamate antagonists.

Question 36

The area of neural tissue surrounding an infarct is known as the 

A)embolism. 
B)thrombosis. 
C)penumbra. 
D)aneurysm.

Question 37

A thrombosis is 

A)a blockage resulting from material that doesn't move from its point of origin. 
B)a blockage resulting from material that travels to smaller diameter blood vessels until it has to stop. 
C)bleeding in the brain. 
D)an area of dead neurons.

Question 38

Phencyclidine (PCP)is a potent glutamate antagonist that is known to produce psychotic behavior in humans.Given what you know about stroke,what would happen if somebody used PCP right after a stroke? 

A)It would increase the damage initiated by the stroke. 
B)It might have a protective effect against further cell death, but the psychotic side effects would be problematic. 
C)It would not produce any psychotic symptoms due to stroke-related changes in brain biochemistry. 
D)It would have no observable effects on cell health or psychotic behavior.

Question 39

Infarcts 

A)seldom produce any noticeable symptoms. 
B)always trigger unconsciousness or coma. 
C)contribute to the development of epilepsy. 
D)produce different symptoms that depend on their size and location.

Question 40

Cerebral hemorrhages 

A)usually do not cause much damage unless they continue for more than 48 hours. 
B)produce milder symptoms than ischemia. 
C)usually do not produce noticeable behavioral symptoms. 
D)are frequently fatal due to interfering with the blood supply to neurons and leading to neuron dehydration.

Question 41

Which of the following is one of the three leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in the United States? 

A)playing football. 
B)traffic accidents. 
C)playing soccer. 
D)boxing.

Question 42

The site of a blow to the head in a closed head injury is known as the 

A)thrombosis. 
B)hematoma. 
C)coup. 
D)countercoup.

Question 43

Which of the following individuals is the most likely to have ongoing symptoms of traumatic brain injury? 

A)Guillaume, who is an Olympic sprinter 
B)George, who has been a professional American football player for many years 
C)Michael, who has been an Olympic swimmer for years 
D)Samuel, who has been a professional ballet dancer for years

Question 44

The site of damage on the opposite side of an initial blow in a closed head injury is known as the 

A)thrombosis. 
B)hematoma. 
C)coup. 
D)countercoup.

Question 45

Bleeding between the membranes covering the brain (that is,under the dura mater)following a closed head injury is known as 

A)thrombosis. 
B)subdural hematoma. 
C)coup. 
D)countercoup.

Question 46

Having the E4 variant of the APOE gene increases a boxer's risk for 

A)stroke. 
B)brain tumors. 
C)aneurysms. 
D)dementia pugilistica.

Question 47

The symptoms and autopsy results from cases of dementia pugilistica,or boxer's syndrome,most closely resemble 

A)open head injuries. 
B)Alzheimer's disease. 
C)Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. 
D)meningitis.

Question 48

What is there about a concussion that may cause the cognitive symptoms seen in some people following their injury? 

A)When you are unconscious, your brain is not getting enough nutrients, so the longer you are unconscious, the more apt you are to have problems. 
B)When you have a concussion, there is a very good probability that the brain is actually injured either by compression or some similar trauma. 
C)Concussions will not cause any problems unless you are unconscious for a while, which results in a loss of blood supply to the brain. 
D)Concussions will not cause cognitive problems unless the damage is accompanied by bleeding.

Question 49

The sheep disease "scrapie" can spread to 

A)humans, but not to cows. 
B)cows, but not to humans. 
C)both cows and humans. 
D)neither cows nor humans.

Question 50

The sheep disease "scrapie" 

A)caused an epidemic among humans in nineteenth century Great Britain. 
B)is responsible for causing kuru in humans. 
C)does not pass directly to humans, although it can pass to other animals like cows. 
D)passes frequently to humans in countries that consume a lot of sheep.

Question 51

So-called "mad cow disease" is a type of 

A)transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). 
B)encephalitis. 
C)meningitis. 
D)kuru.

Question 52

Among the symptoms of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)in humans is (are) 

A)convulsions. 
B)paranoia. 
C)inflammation of the meninges. 
D)a stiff neck and aversion to lights.

Question 53

Symptoms of dementia pugilistica,or boxer's syndrome,can include 

A)an inability to feel pain. 
B)unrealistically euphoric mood. 
C)slurred speech and personality changes. 
D)high blood pressure.

Question 54

The HIV virus 

A)invades neurons, killing them. 
B)invades a variety of cells in the nervous system, which release chemicals that trigger apoptosis. 
C)interferes with the NMDA glutamate receptor, which then no longer allows calcium to enter neurons. 
D)has no direct effect on the cells of the nervous system, but allows opportunistic viruses to thrive.

Question 55

Symptoms that occur following a concussion 

A)are only seen when subdural bleeding has occurred. 
B)are always seen. 
C)occurs in some, but not all cases of open head injury. 
D)occurs in some, but not all cases of concussion.

Question 56

Symptoms that occur following a concussion 

A)occur only in cases in which unconsciousness lasts for more than a day. 
B)occur only in cases in which bleeding has required surgery. 
C)can produce lack of concentration and memory loss. 
D)are usually so mild that the patient does not notice any changes.

Question 57

see Figure 15.6​

In this illustration of a closed head injury,the area indicated by the number 2 is known as a 

A)embolism. 
B)thrombosis. 
C)coup. 
D)countercoup.

Question 58

Initial symptoms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND)may mimic 

A)meningitis. 
B)West Nile virus infection. 
C)depression. 
D)schizophrenia.

Question 59

The best predictor of the development of chronic traumatic brain injury in boxers is 

A)the use of protective headgear. 
B)the weight class of the boxer. 
C)their genetic makeup. 
D)the win-loss record of the boxer.

Question 60

A concussion 

A)is a mild injury that does not require medical attention. 
B)is a type of open head injury. 
C)can produce symptoms that range from mild to a coma.. 
D)does not produce unconsciousness.

Question 61

Gliomas typically arise in 

A)neurons. 
B)astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, or a combination of the two. 
C)Schwann and Amacrine cells. 
D)the membranes covering the brain.

Question 62

The process in which malignant tumors shed cells that travel to another part of the body,where they initiate new tumor growth,is known as:​ 

A)infiltration. 
B)encapsulation. 
C)malformation. 
D)metastasis.

Question 63

Independent growths of new tissue that lack purpose are known as 

A)tumors. 
B)arteriovenous malformations. 
C)cavernous malformations. 
D)aneurysms.

Question 64

Which of the following factors are responsible for some cases of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease? 

A)eating infected beef 
B)cannibalism 
C)contamination of surgical instruments 
D)eating sheep meat infected with "scrapie"

Question 65

Tumors that lack boundaries and are likely to recur following removal are known as 

A)benign 
B)malignant 
C)encapsulated 
D)recursive

Question 66

The use of chemotherapy for brain tumors is complicated by the fact that 

A)brain tumors do not respond to traditional chemotherapy.  
B)chemotherapy causes too much damage to neurons to be considered as a treatment for brain tumors. 
C)many substances used in traditional chemotherapy do not cross the blood-brain barrier. 
D)substances used in traditional chemotherapy mimic the actions of naturally occurring neurotransmitters.

Question 67

Compared to classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD),new variant CJD 

A)is less likely to result from eating infected beef. 
B)is more likely to affect women than men. 
C)appears to affect younger people. 
D)produces fewer prion plaques in the brain.

Question 68

Kuru,a disease found among the Fore people of New Guinea,virtually died out after 

A)beef consumption was outlawed. 
B)people changed to vegetarian diets. 
C)consumption of monkeys was outlawed. 
D)cannibalism was outlawed.

Question 69

Your physician somberly informs you that you have been diagnosed with a Grade I tumor and will require surgery.What does this mean? 

A)You may want to pass up the surgery and concentrate on enjoying your remaining time, as Grade I tumors are typically rapidly fatal with or without treatment. 
B)You should ask for a second opinion, as Grade I tumors are benign, and do not need to be removed through surgery. 
C)You can feel mildly optimistic, as Grade I tumors tend to recur after surgery, but they also grow slowly. 
D)Your chances of survival are relatively good, as Grade I tumors are usually benign, slow-growing, and respond well to surgery.

Question 70

The recent outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)in Great Britain and other countries probably resulted from 

A)spontaneous genetic mutations. 
B)housing cattle in too close proximity to infected sheep. 
C)the use of ground bone and meat in animal feed. 
D)the use of hormones to promote growth in cattle.

Question 71

Meningiomas typically​ 

A)cannot be removed surgically due to their location. 
B)are typically malignant. 
C)are typically benign. 
D)produce a serious risk of metastasis.

Question 72

Tumors in the nervous system arise from 

A)neurons and glia. 
B)neurons and cells of the meninges. 
C)glia and cells of the meninges. 
D)neurons, glia, and cells of the meninges.

Question 73

Symptoms of tumors include​ 

A)general symptoms due to increased pressure and specific symptoms related to the location of the tumor. 
B)increased heart rate. 
C)increased amounts of cerebrospinal fluid. 
D)loss of the ability to plan behavior.

Question 74

The prions believed to cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) 

A)normally perform important functions in their host animal, and only cause problems if they are transmitted to another species. 
B)differ from normal versions of proteins due to their increased length. 
C)show different forms in different species. 
D)show identical forms in all species.

Question 75

Your friend is traveling to a part of the world that has experienced a recent outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).What advice should you give your friend? 

A)You have nothing to worry about. BSE involves prions that cannot be transmitted to humans. 
B)If you must eat beef, it is best to stick to steak and avoid hamburgers and sausages. 
C)You shouldn't eat any meat whatsoever, as the same prions that affect cattle are likely to spread to other animals, like sheep and pigs. 
D)If you must eat beef, stick to hamburgers and sausages and avoid steak.

Question 76

Meningiomas typically arise from 

A)neurons. 
B)astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, or a combination of the two. 
C)Schwann and Amacrine cells. 
D)the membranes covering the brain.

Question 77

 Which of the following could not be an accurate statement?​ 

A)Tom has been hospitalized due to lung cancer that has metastasized to his brain. 
B)Tom has been hospitalized due to a glioma that has caused him to have seizures. 
C)Tom has been hospitalized due to a benign tumor that has spread to his liver. 
D)Tom has been hospitalized due to a meningioma that will be removed from his brain tomorrow.

Question 78

Tumors that are contained within their own membrane are unlikely to recur following removal are known as 

A)infiltrating 
B)malignant 
C)benign 
D)metastatic

Question 79

Most recent cases of new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (vCJD)probably resulted from​ 

A)contamination from instruments used in surgical procedures. 
B)cannibalism. 
C)eating steak (muscle meat) from infected cattle. 
D)eating meat from infected cattle that contains nervous system tissue.

Question 80

In cell cultures,abnormal prions 

A)"hijack" DNA in order to produce more abnormal prions. 
B)convert normal prions into the abnormal form. 
C)increase calcium influx, which triggers apoptosis. 
D)enhance the expression of death genes that produce caspases.