ASPPB Neuropsychology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is primarily used to assess:
- Long-term episodic memory
- Prefrontal executive functions and perseveration (Correct answer)
- Visuomotor speed
- Language comprehension
Correct answer: Prefrontal executive functions and perseveration
The WCST is a classic measure of prefrontal executive functioning, particularly rule learning, cognitive flexibility, and tendency to perseverate.
Question 2: Transcortical motor aphasia is characterized by:
- Impaired repetition with intact spontaneous speech
- Impaired repetition with nonfluent spontaneous speech
- Preserved repetition with nonfluent spontaneous speech (Correct answer)
- Fluent speech with paraphasic errors
Correct answer: Preserved repetition with nonfluent spontaneous speech
In transcortical motor aphasia, repetition is preserved but spontaneous speech is nonfluent, reflecting supplementary motor area involvement.
Question 3: Which test is considered the gold standard for detecting effort and malingering in neuropsychological evaluations?
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2
- Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) (Correct answer)
- Rey Complex Figure Test
- Digit Span subtest
Correct answer: Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM)
The TOMM is a widely validated symptom validity test designed specifically to detect feigned memory impairment.
Question 4: Damage to the anterior cingulate cortex is most associated with:
- Amnesia for recent events
- Akinetic mutism and reduced motivation (Correct answer)
- Wernicke's aphasia
- Spatial neglect
Correct answer: Akinetic mutism and reduced motivation
The anterior cingulate cortex is critical for motivated behavior; bilateral lesions can cause akinetic mutism characterized by profound apathy.
Question 5: The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) assesses memory by examining:
- Immediate and delayed recall with learning curve analysis (Correct answer)
- Visuospatial memory across trials
- Working memory span only
- Procedural motor learning
Correct answer: Immediate and delayed recall with learning curve analysis
The CVLT measures multiple memory processes including encoding, semantic clustering, short- and long-delay recall, and recognition discrimination.
Question 6: In pediatric neuropsychology, which condition is characterized by deficits in sustained attention, impulse control, and executive function without primary intellectual disability?
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (Correct answer)
- Childhood-onset schizophrenia
- Nonverbal learning disability
Correct answer: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
ADHD is defined by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity rooted in executive and attentional dysregulation.
Question 7: Which brain region shows the earliest and most severe atrophy in Alzheimer's disease?
- Frontal cortex
- Entorhinal cortex and hippocampus (Correct answer)
- Primary motor cortex
- Occipital cortex
Correct answer: Entorhinal cortex and hippocampus
Alzheimer's disease pathology begins in the entorhinal cortex and spreads to the hippocampus, explaining early episodic memory impairment.
ASPPB Neuropsychology 3
The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is primarily used to assess: