CNIM Benchmark Actual Exam 2026 CNIM
Benchmark Exam #1 Results and Analysis
Exam 2026 Questions and Correct Answers
Rated A+
Functional cortical stimulation is used to localize brain areas that must
be:
-identified before clamping
-monitored further by somatosensory EPs
-preserved during resection
-most at risk during aneurysm clipping -Answer-preserved during
resection
Which of the following will result in abnormal PTN responses?
-Positive Babinski sign
-Negative Tinel's sign
-Positive sign of Roth
-Absent Morgard reflex -Answer-Positive Babinski sign
During scoliosis surgery, the spinal cord is most at risk for injury?
during hypotension induced by the anesthesiologist
during spinal distraction and sub laminar wiring
after the initial incision and at closing
at the start of the laminectomy -Answer-during spinal distraction and
sub laminar wiring
Minimum Alveolar Concentration refers to the amount of anesthetic
required to, in 50% of patients:
Reduce the evoked potentials to oblivion
Prevent patient recall
,Prevent patient movement
Produce burst suppression -Answer-Prevent patient movement
The surgical procedure that would have the greatest risk for changes
in cardiovascular and respiratory efforts would?
be the removal of an occipital tumor
involve the posterior fossa
be in the area of the posterior spinal segments
be temporal lobectomy -Answer-involve the posterior fossa
With significant changes in cervical and cortical SSEPs during
intraoperative monitoring, adequate stimulation of the median nerve is
indicated by?
no change in the peripheral responses
consistent anesthetic levels
a persistent thumb twitch
a loss of the peripheral response -Answer-no change in the peripheral
responses
All of the following are true of magnetic stimulation except:
Pulses of current are delivered through a coil of wire
Current is administered through an electrically paced stimulator
It is difficult to accommodate the large coil in an operating room
setting
The magnetic field created causes movement in cortical neurons -
Answer-Current is administered through an electrically paced
stimulator
Prolonged MN responses including Erb's point is most likely due to:
Pinched peripheral vessel
Thalamic lesion
Dorsal column injury
,Carotid stenosis -Answer-Pinched peripheral vessel
The effects of Harrington rod distraction on the spinal cord can be
tested by all of the following except:
Motor EPs
Dorsal root stimulation
Somatosensory EPs
The Stagnara wake-up test -Answer-Dorsal root stimulation
A stimulus pulse width that would tend to excite a larger population of
motor fibers then sensory fibers is:
1 ms
0.2 msec
0.5 ms
0.05 ms -Answer-0.05 ms
The EP monitoring team must?
-include a medical engineer
-communicate on a regular basis and work in shifts throughout
surgical procedures
-include a neuroanesthesiologist
-communicate any changes in the study and be able to solve technical
difficulties -Answer-communicate any changes in the study and be
able to solve technical difficulties
During tibial nerve stimulation, a decreased nerve conduction velocity
between the popliteal fossa and L3 potential, with normal NCV to the
popliteal fossa indicates:
a normal pathway
that the extremity should be cooled and the study repeated
a lesion between the popliteal fossa and caudal equina
, a lesion between the ankle and popliteal fossa -Answer-a lesion
between the popliteal fossa and caudal equina
What muscle would you monitor for EMG activity for cranial nerve XII?
Tongue
Frontalis
Trapezius
Masseter -Answer-Tongue
An EP recording system should allow averaging of:
at least 4000 trials
6000 trials or more
a maximum of 2000 trials
no more than 500 trials -Answer-at least 4000 trials
The effects of pharmacological or surgical manipulations can be
mimicked by the inappropriate manipulation of:
the ground electrode
the stimulus intensity
the stimulus rate
filter settings -Answer-filter settings
What is the effect on SSEPs of 50μg/kg fentanyl?
Slightly increased latency, no change in amplitude
Decreased latency, increased amplitude
Increased latency, decreased amplitude
No change -Answer-Slightly increased latency, no change in
amplitude
The most diagnostic part of the BAEP is:
Wave I latency
Wave V latency
Benchmark Exam #1 Results and Analysis
Exam 2026 Questions and Correct Answers
Rated A+
Functional cortical stimulation is used to localize brain areas that must
be:
-identified before clamping
-monitored further by somatosensory EPs
-preserved during resection
-most at risk during aneurysm clipping -Answer-preserved during
resection
Which of the following will result in abnormal PTN responses?
-Positive Babinski sign
-Negative Tinel's sign
-Positive sign of Roth
-Absent Morgard reflex -Answer-Positive Babinski sign
During scoliosis surgery, the spinal cord is most at risk for injury?
during hypotension induced by the anesthesiologist
during spinal distraction and sub laminar wiring
after the initial incision and at closing
at the start of the laminectomy -Answer-during spinal distraction and
sub laminar wiring
Minimum Alveolar Concentration refers to the amount of anesthetic
required to, in 50% of patients:
Reduce the evoked potentials to oblivion
Prevent patient recall
,Prevent patient movement
Produce burst suppression -Answer-Prevent patient movement
The surgical procedure that would have the greatest risk for changes
in cardiovascular and respiratory efforts would?
be the removal of an occipital tumor
involve the posterior fossa
be in the area of the posterior spinal segments
be temporal lobectomy -Answer-involve the posterior fossa
With significant changes in cervical and cortical SSEPs during
intraoperative monitoring, adequate stimulation of the median nerve is
indicated by?
no change in the peripheral responses
consistent anesthetic levels
a persistent thumb twitch
a loss of the peripheral response -Answer-no change in the peripheral
responses
All of the following are true of magnetic stimulation except:
Pulses of current are delivered through a coil of wire
Current is administered through an electrically paced stimulator
It is difficult to accommodate the large coil in an operating room
setting
The magnetic field created causes movement in cortical neurons -
Answer-Current is administered through an electrically paced
stimulator
Prolonged MN responses including Erb's point is most likely due to:
Pinched peripheral vessel
Thalamic lesion
Dorsal column injury
,Carotid stenosis -Answer-Pinched peripheral vessel
The effects of Harrington rod distraction on the spinal cord can be
tested by all of the following except:
Motor EPs
Dorsal root stimulation
Somatosensory EPs
The Stagnara wake-up test -Answer-Dorsal root stimulation
A stimulus pulse width that would tend to excite a larger population of
motor fibers then sensory fibers is:
1 ms
0.2 msec
0.5 ms
0.05 ms -Answer-0.05 ms
The EP monitoring team must?
-include a medical engineer
-communicate on a regular basis and work in shifts throughout
surgical procedures
-include a neuroanesthesiologist
-communicate any changes in the study and be able to solve technical
difficulties -Answer-communicate any changes in the study and be
able to solve technical difficulties
During tibial nerve stimulation, a decreased nerve conduction velocity
between the popliteal fossa and L3 potential, with normal NCV to the
popliteal fossa indicates:
a normal pathway
that the extremity should be cooled and the study repeated
a lesion between the popliteal fossa and caudal equina
, a lesion between the ankle and popliteal fossa -Answer-a lesion
between the popliteal fossa and caudal equina
What muscle would you monitor for EMG activity for cranial nerve XII?
Tongue
Frontalis
Trapezius
Masseter -Answer-Tongue
An EP recording system should allow averaging of:
at least 4000 trials
6000 trials or more
a maximum of 2000 trials
no more than 500 trials -Answer-at least 4000 trials
The effects of pharmacological or surgical manipulations can be
mimicked by the inappropriate manipulation of:
the ground electrode
the stimulus intensity
the stimulus rate
filter settings -Answer-filter settings
What is the effect on SSEPs of 50μg/kg fentanyl?
Slightly increased latency, no change in amplitude
Decreased latency, increased amplitude
Increased latency, decreased amplitude
No change -Answer-Slightly increased latency, no change in
amplitude
The most diagnostic part of the BAEP is:
Wave I latency
Wave V latency
