AP Psychology: Overview of the Nervous System — Drill 2

About This Drill

AP Psychology: Overview of the Nervous System — Drill 2 is a Multiple Choice practice drill covering Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior. It contains 5 original questions created by Brian Stewart, a Barron's test prep author with over 20 years of tutoring experience.

Sharpen your knowledge of the central and peripheral nervous system with these AP Psychology practice questions on the overview of the nervous system — essential AP exam prep for Unit 1.

Questions in This Drill

1. A doctor taps a patient's knee with a reflex hammer. The patient's leg kicks forward without any conscious thought or deliberate movement. Which part of the nervous system is primarily responsible for producing this response?
2. After finishing a large meal, Marcus notices that his heart rate has slowed, his digestion feels active, and he feels calm and relaxed. Which division of the nervous system best accounts for Marcus's current state?
3. A neuroscientist suspects that a patient's loss of hand sensation is caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system rather than the brain. She runs a nerve conduction test on the affected arm and a brain imaging scan while the hand is stimulated. Which result would most strongly support her hypothesis that the problem is peripheral rather than central?
4. A researcher studying stress responses measures participants' heart rate and pupil dilation during two conditions: (1) resting quietly and (2) preparing to give a surprise speech in front of an audience. Results are shown below: Mean heart rate (bpm) — Resting: 68 | Pre-Speech: 97 Mean pupil diameter (mm) — Resting: 3.1 | Pre-Speech: 6.4 Which conclusion is best supported by these data?
5. A peripheral nerve bundle serving a patient's right arm is severed. She can no longer feel touch or pain in the arm, and the arm is completely limp — she cannot move it at all. A medical student says: "This injury must have affected the central nervous system, because both sensation and movement are lost." Which of the following best evaluates the student's reasoning?