Final Exam GCU PSY 402 Cognitive neuroscience Practice
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GCU PSY 402 Cognitive Neuroscience – Final Exam Practice (Sample 50 Questions)
Question 1
Which of the following best defines cognitive psychology?
A. Study of neurons and brain anatomy
B. Study of how the mind works (thinking, memory, attention)
C. Study of cultural traditions
D. Study of unconscious behavior
Answer : B
Explanation: Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes such as thinking, memory, attention,
perception, and problem-solving.
Question 2
The principle of neural representation states that:
A. Every experience is represented by neuron firing patterns
B. Only the cortex represents experiences
C. Neurons do not play a role in memory
D. Sensory organs store experiences
Answer : A
Explanation: Neural representation posits that all mental experiences arise from specific firing patterns
of neurons.
Question 3
An action potential:
A. Is a chemical signal released into the synapse
B. Represents an electrical spike along the neuron
,C. Decreases with stimulus intensity
D. Only occurs in the brain
Answer : B
Explanation: Action potentials are electrical impulses that travel along neurons; stronger stimuli
increase firing rate, not amplitude.
Question 4
Specificity coding involves:
A. A single neuron representing a single object
B. All neurons firing for all stimuli
C. Groups of neurons firing together
D. Random neuron firing
Answer : A
Explanation: In specificity coding, one “special” neuron represents one concept, like the “Jennifer
Aniston neuron.”
Question 5
Population coding differs from specificity coding because:
A. Only one neuron is involved
B. A group of neurons represents a concept collectively
C. The signal is weaker
D. It uses glial cells instead of neurons
Answer : B
Explanation: Population coding distributes representation across multiple neurons, allowing redundancy
and robust coding.
Question 6
Sparse coding refers to:
A. All neurons firing simultaneously
B. Only a small subset of neurons active for a given stimulus
C. Random action potentials
D. Neurons firing continuously
Answer : B
Explanation: Sparse coding is efficient; only a few neurons respond strongly, reducing energy
consumption and enhancing specificity.
, Question 7
Which technique measures brain structure using X-ray slices?
A. MRI
B. CT scan
C. fMRI
D. PET
Answer : B
Explanation: CT scans use X-rays to create 3D images of the brain, useful for detecting bleeding and
structural damage.
Question 8
fMRI measures brain activity through:
A. Electrical currents
B. Blood oxygenation (BOLD signal)
C. Radioactive tracers
D. Magnetism of neurons
Answer : B
Explanation: fMRI detects changes in blood flow as a proxy for neural activity; good spatial resolution
but slower temporal resolution.
Question 9
EEG is primarily used because it:
A. Has excellent spatial resolution
B. Measures blood flow
C. Records electrical activity with high temporal resolution
D. Uses radioactive tracers
Answer : C
Explanation: EEG tracks neural electrical activity with millisecond accuracy; spatial resolution is poor.
Question 10
Which memory type is unconscious and includes skills and habits?
A. Semantic memory
B. Episodic memory
C. Non-declarative memory
D. Working memory
Exam With Complete Questions And Correct Answers|
Brand New Version!
GCU PSY 402 Cognitive Neuroscience – Final Exam Practice (Sample 50 Questions)
Question 1
Which of the following best defines cognitive psychology?
A. Study of neurons and brain anatomy
B. Study of how the mind works (thinking, memory, attention)
C. Study of cultural traditions
D. Study of unconscious behavior
Answer : B
Explanation: Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes such as thinking, memory, attention,
perception, and problem-solving.
Question 2
The principle of neural representation states that:
A. Every experience is represented by neuron firing patterns
B. Only the cortex represents experiences
C. Neurons do not play a role in memory
D. Sensory organs store experiences
Answer : A
Explanation: Neural representation posits that all mental experiences arise from specific firing patterns
of neurons.
Question 3
An action potential:
A. Is a chemical signal released into the synapse
B. Represents an electrical spike along the neuron
,C. Decreases with stimulus intensity
D. Only occurs in the brain
Answer : B
Explanation: Action potentials are electrical impulses that travel along neurons; stronger stimuli
increase firing rate, not amplitude.
Question 4
Specificity coding involves:
A. A single neuron representing a single object
B. All neurons firing for all stimuli
C. Groups of neurons firing together
D. Random neuron firing
Answer : A
Explanation: In specificity coding, one “special” neuron represents one concept, like the “Jennifer
Aniston neuron.”
Question 5
Population coding differs from specificity coding because:
A. Only one neuron is involved
B. A group of neurons represents a concept collectively
C. The signal is weaker
D. It uses glial cells instead of neurons
Answer : B
Explanation: Population coding distributes representation across multiple neurons, allowing redundancy
and robust coding.
Question 6
Sparse coding refers to:
A. All neurons firing simultaneously
B. Only a small subset of neurons active for a given stimulus
C. Random action potentials
D. Neurons firing continuously
Answer : B
Explanation: Sparse coding is efficient; only a few neurons respond strongly, reducing energy
consumption and enhancing specificity.
, Question 7
Which technique measures brain structure using X-ray slices?
A. MRI
B. CT scan
C. fMRI
D. PET
Answer : B
Explanation: CT scans use X-rays to create 3D images of the brain, useful for detecting bleeding and
structural damage.
Question 8
fMRI measures brain activity through:
A. Electrical currents
B. Blood oxygenation (BOLD signal)
C. Radioactive tracers
D. Magnetism of neurons
Answer : B
Explanation: fMRI detects changes in blood flow as a proxy for neural activity; good spatial resolution
but slower temporal resolution.
Question 9
EEG is primarily used because it:
A. Has excellent spatial resolution
B. Measures blood flow
C. Records electrical activity with high temporal resolution
D. Uses radioactive tracers
Answer : C
Explanation: EEG tracks neural electrical activity with millisecond accuracy; spatial resolution is poor.
Question 10
Which memory type is unconscious and includes skills and habits?
A. Semantic memory
B. Episodic memory
C. Non-declarative memory
D. Working memory
