WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
WGU D574 Neuropsychology
Objective Assessment (OA)
Official Practice Exam . 2026/2027 Edition
Questions: 75 | Minutes: 90 | Passing Score: 80%% | Recertification: Annual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 .... Neuroanatomy and Neural Communication (Q1-Q15)
Section 2 .... Sensory and Motor Systems (Q16-Q30)
Section 3 .... Cognitive Functions (Q31-Q45)
Section 4 .... Neuropsychological Assessment and Disorders (Q46-Q60)
Section 5 .... Neurodevelopment, Aging, and Neuroplasticity (Q61-Q75)
INSTRUCTIONS: This practice exam contains 75 multiple-choice questions across 5 sections. Each question
presents a realistic scenario followed by four answer choices. Select the one best answer. A rationale is provided
for every question. You have 90 minutes to complete the exam. A score of 80%% or higher is required to pass.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 69
,Section 1: Neuroanatomy and Neural Communication - 2026/2027
Q1. Question 1 of 75
A 34-year-old man presents with weakness on the left side of his body after a stroke. MRI
reveals an infarct in the right frontal lobe. The nurse understands that the right frontal lobe
is primarily responsible for which function that may be affected in this patient?
A. Spatial reasoning, attention to the left side of space, and modulation of emotional expression
on the left side of the face
B. Language production and grammatical processing in right-handed individuals
C. Fine motor coordination of the right hand and fingers
D. Long-term memory consolidation for verbal information
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
The right frontal lobe contributes to spatial reasoning, left-sided attention, and emotional expression on
the contralateral face. Language production is typically a left frontal lobe function, fine motor
coordination of the right hand is controlled by the left motor cortex, and verbal memory consolidation
involves the left hippocampus.
Q2. Question 2 of 75
A neurologist is explaining the resting membrane potential to a medical student. She states
that the resting potential of a typical neuron is approximately negative 70 millivolts. This
negative charge inside the neuron relative to the outside is maintained primarily by which
mechanism?
A. The sodium-potassium pump, which actively transports three sodium ions out of the cell
and two potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients using ATP
B. Passive diffusion of chloride ions into the cell through leak channels that remain open at rest
C. Voltage-gated calcium channels that continuously release calcium from intracellular stores
D. Glial cell secretion of inhibitory neurotransmitters that hyperpolarize the neuronal membrane
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The sodium-potassium pump maintains the resting membrane potential by actively moving three Na+
ions out and two K+ ions in per cycle, creating a net negative charge inside the cell. Chloride leak
channels contribute but are not the primary mechanism, voltage-gated calcium channels are closed at
rest, and glial cells do not secrete inhibitory neurotransmitters to maintain resting potential.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 69
,Q3. Question 3 of 75
A 45-year-old woman undergoes neurological testing after experiencing visual field deficits.
The ophthalmologist determines she has bitemporal hemianopsia. A pituitary tumor
compressing the optic chiasm is the most likely cause. The optic chiasm is the structure
where which of the following occurs?
A. Fibers from the nasal retina of each eye cross to the opposite side, allowing visual information
from the left visual field of both eyes to be processed by the right hemisphere
B. All optic nerve fibers from both eyes merge into a single tract before reaching the lateral
geniculate nucleus
C. The optic nerves from each eye exit the eyeball and begin their pathway to the brain
D. Visual information is first processed and interpreted before being sent to the primary visual
cortex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
At the optic chiasm, nasal retinal fibers from each eye decussate so that the left visual field of both
eyes projects to the right hemisphere and vice versa. Not all fibers merge because temporal fibers
remain ipsilateral, the optic nerve exiting the eyeball occurs before the chiasm, and initial visual
processing occurs in the cortex, not the chiasm.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 69
, Q4. Question 4 of 75
A researcher is studying synaptic transmission and observes that when an action potential
reaches the presynaptic terminal, voltage-gated calcium channels open. The influx of
calcium triggers vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. This process is called
exocytosis. The neurotransmitter then crosses the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on
the postsynaptic membrane. An excitatory postsynaptic potential results in which of the
following?
A. Hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane, moving the membrane potential further from
threshold
B. Depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane, bringing the membrane potential closer
to the threshold for generating an action potential
C. No change in the postsynaptic membrane potential because neurotransmitters only bind to
presynaptic autoreceptors
D. Immediate generation of an action potential regardless of the current membrane potential
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
An excitatory postsynaptic potential causes depolarization, bringing the membrane potential closer to
threshold and increasing the likelihood of an action potential. Hyperpolarization describes an inhibitory
postsynaptic potential, neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors in this context, and an EPSP
alone does not guarantee an action potential.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 69
WGU D574 Neuropsychology
Objective Assessment (OA)
Official Practice Exam . 2026/2027 Edition
Questions: 75 | Minutes: 90 | Passing Score: 80%% | Recertification: Annual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 .... Neuroanatomy and Neural Communication (Q1-Q15)
Section 2 .... Sensory and Motor Systems (Q16-Q30)
Section 3 .... Cognitive Functions (Q31-Q45)
Section 4 .... Neuropsychological Assessment and Disorders (Q46-Q60)
Section 5 .... Neurodevelopment, Aging, and Neuroplasticity (Q61-Q75)
INSTRUCTIONS: This practice exam contains 75 multiple-choice questions across 5 sections. Each question
presents a realistic scenario followed by four answer choices. Select the one best answer. A rationale is provided
for every question. You have 90 minutes to complete the exam. A score of 80%% or higher is required to pass.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 1 of 69
,Section 1: Neuroanatomy and Neural Communication - 2026/2027
Q1. Question 1 of 75
A 34-year-old man presents with weakness on the left side of his body after a stroke. MRI
reveals an infarct in the right frontal lobe. The nurse understands that the right frontal lobe
is primarily responsible for which function that may be affected in this patient?
A. Spatial reasoning, attention to the left side of space, and modulation of emotional expression
on the left side of the face
B. Language production and grammatical processing in right-handed individuals
C. Fine motor coordination of the right hand and fingers
D. Long-term memory consolidation for verbal information
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
The right frontal lobe contributes to spatial reasoning, left-sided attention, and emotional expression on
the contralateral face. Language production is typically a left frontal lobe function, fine motor
coordination of the right hand is controlled by the left motor cortex, and verbal memory consolidation
involves the left hippocampus.
Q2. Question 2 of 75
A neurologist is explaining the resting membrane potential to a medical student. She states
that the resting potential of a typical neuron is approximately negative 70 millivolts. This
negative charge inside the neuron relative to the outside is maintained primarily by which
mechanism?
A. The sodium-potassium pump, which actively transports three sodium ions out of the cell
and two potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients using ATP
B. Passive diffusion of chloride ions into the cell through leak channels that remain open at rest
C. Voltage-gated calcium channels that continuously release calcium from intracellular stores
D. Glial cell secretion of inhibitory neurotransmitters that hyperpolarize the neuronal membrane
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The sodium-potassium pump maintains the resting membrane potential by actively moving three Na+
ions out and two K+ ions in per cycle, creating a net negative charge inside the cell. Chloride leak
channels contribute but are not the primary mechanism, voltage-gated calcium channels are closed at
rest, and glial cells do not secrete inhibitory neurotransmitters to maintain resting potential.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 69
,Q3. Question 3 of 75
A 45-year-old woman undergoes neurological testing after experiencing visual field deficits.
The ophthalmologist determines she has bitemporal hemianopsia. A pituitary tumor
compressing the optic chiasm is the most likely cause. The optic chiasm is the structure
where which of the following occurs?
A. Fibers from the nasal retina of each eye cross to the opposite side, allowing visual information
from the left visual field of both eyes to be processed by the right hemisphere
B. All optic nerve fibers from both eyes merge into a single tract before reaching the lateral
geniculate nucleus
C. The optic nerves from each eye exit the eyeball and begin their pathway to the brain
D. Visual information is first processed and interpreted before being sent to the primary visual
cortex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
At the optic chiasm, nasal retinal fibers from each eye decussate so that the left visual field of both
eyes projects to the right hemisphere and vice versa. Not all fibers merge because temporal fibers
remain ipsilateral, the optic nerve exiting the eyeball occurs before the chiasm, and initial visual
processing occurs in the cortex, not the chiasm.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 69
, Q4. Question 4 of 75
A researcher is studying synaptic transmission and observes that when an action potential
reaches the presynaptic terminal, voltage-gated calcium channels open. The influx of
calcium triggers vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. This process is called
exocytosis. The neurotransmitter then crosses the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on
the postsynaptic membrane. An excitatory postsynaptic potential results in which of the
following?
A. Hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane, moving the membrane potential further from
threshold
B. Depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane, bringing the membrane potential closer
to the threshold for generating an action potential
C. No change in the postsynaptic membrane potential because neurotransmitters only bind to
presynaptic autoreceptors
D. Immediate generation of an action potential regardless of the current membrane potential
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
An excitatory postsynaptic potential causes depolarization, bringing the membrane potential closer to
threshold and increasing the likelihood of an action potential. Hyperpolarization describes an inhibitory
postsynaptic potential, neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors in this context, and an EPSP
alone does not guarantee an action potential.
WGU D574 Neuropsychology - 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 4 of 69
