Fuel your brainpower with our free ap psychology unit 3 practice test, also called the ap psych unit 3 practice test, designed to sharpen your understanding of neuroscience essentials and boost your confidence before exam day! In this comprehensive unit 3 ap psychology practice test, you'll dive deep into critical topics - from the role of acetylcholine ap psychology in synaptic transmission to advanced brain mapping techniques and tracking neural impulses across axons. Whether you're reviewing synaptic structures in our axon AP Psychology walkthrough or brushing up on key theories through detailed ap psychology unit reviews , this unit 3 ap psych test pinpoints your strengths and highlights areas for extra study. Ready to challenge yourself and turn insights into improved scores? Click to start now and take the first step toward acing Unit 3!
What is the basic functional unit of the nervous system?
Neuron
Glial cell
Synapse
Hormone
Neurons are the primary signaling cells that transmit information throughout the nervous system. Glial cells provide support and insulation but do not conduct impulses. Synapses are the junctions between neurons where communication occurs. Hormones are chemical messengers released into the bloodstream. Learn more.
During an action potential, which ion rushes into the neuron causing depolarization?
Calcium (Ca2+)
Chloride (Cl-)
Potassium (K+)
Sodium (Na+)
When a neuron reaches threshold, voltage-gated sodium channels open, allowing Na+ ions to flow into the cell. This influx causes the internal membrane potential to become more positive (depolarization). Potassium ions later restore the resting potential. Chloride and calcium have different roles in other neuronal processes. Read more.
Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in muscle movement and memory?
Acetylcholine
Serotonin
Dopamine
GABA
Acetylcholine (ACh) is the neurotransmitter released at neuromuscular junctions to trigger muscle contraction. It also plays a crucial role in memory and learning within the hippocampus. Dopamine and serotonin serve other functions, such as reward processing and mood regulation. GABA is primarily inhibitory. More details.
Which imaging technique records electrical activity across the scalp?
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Computed Tomography (CT)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
EEG uses electrodes placed on the scalp to measure the brain's electrical activity in real time. MRI and CT create structural images, while PET measures metabolic processes. EEG is especially useful for diagnosing conditions like epilepsy. Explore EEG.
What is the role of the myelin sheath?
To produce neurotransmitters
To connect neurons
To speed up neural impulses
To store ions
The myelin sheath is a fatty covering that wraps around axons, increasing the speed of electrical transmission through saltatory conduction. It does not produce neurotransmitters or store ions. Unmyelinated fibers conduct impulses much more slowly. See details.
What is the gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released?
Node of Ranvier
Dendritic spine
Axon hillock
Synaptic cleft
The synaptic cleft is the tiny space between the presynaptic terminal and the postsynaptic membrane. Neurotransmitters cross this gap to bind to receptors on the next neuron. The axon hillock is where action potentials are generated, and Nodes of Ranvier are gaps in myelin. Learn more.
The central nervous system comprises which structures?
Peripheral nerves only
Brain and peripheral nerves
Brain and spinal cord
Spinal cord and peripheral nerves
The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nerves make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS processes and sends out information, while the PNS carries messages to and from the rest of the body. Read more.
GABA functions as:
A hormonal transmitter
A neuropeptide enzyme
An excitatory neurotransmitter
An inhibitory neurotransmitter
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, reducing neuronal excitability. It helps regulate anxiety and muscle tone. Glutamate serves as the main excitatory transmitter. GABA is not a hormone or enzyme. More info.
Which brain imaging method uses radioactive tracers to measure metabolic activity?
PET scan
EEG
fMRI
CT scan
A PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan injects radioactive tracers to visualize metabolic activity in the brain. fMRI measures blood oxygen changes, while EEG records electrical activity. CT uses X-rays for structural images. See PET details.
fMRI measures changes in:
Bone density
Cerebrospinal fluid volume
Electrical neuron firing directly
Blood oxygenation levels
Functional MRI (fMRI) detects brain activity by measuring changes in blood oxygenation (BOLD signal). Active regions consume more oxygen, altering magnetic properties. It does not directly record electrical neuron firing or bone density. Learn more.
What is the primary function of the thalamus?
Memory consolidation
Sensory relay station
Autonomic regulation
Emotional processing
The thalamus receives incoming sensory signals (except smell) and directs them to appropriate cortical areas. It acts as the brain's information hub. While it has roles in consciousness, it is not the primary site for memory consolidation or autonomic control. More info.
The hypothalamus is most directly involved in:
Language comprehension
Visual processing
Motor coordination
Homeostasis and endocrine regulation
The hypothalamus regulates vital functions like temperature, hunger, thirst, and hormone release via the pituitary gland. It maintains the body's internal equilibrium. It is not primarily responsible for vision, language, or fine motor skills. See details.
Which structure is central to emotion regulation and includes the amygdala?
Corpus callosum
Cerebellum
Limbic system
Brainstem
The limbic system is a network of structures including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus that modulate emotion and memory. The brainstem controls basic life functions, and the cerebellum handles coordination. The corpus callosum connects the hemispheres. Learn more.
Broca's area is primarily responsible for:
Speech production
Language comprehension
Visual processing
Motor coordination
Broca's area, located in the left frontal lobe, is essential for speech production and expressive language. Damage leads to halting, effortful speech. Wernicke's area handles comprehension. It does not manage vision or motor coordination directly. Read more.
Damage to Wernicke's area results in:
Severe memory loss
Loss of motor function
Inability to produce speech
Fluent but nonsensical speech
Wernicke's area, in the left temporal lobe, is key for language comprehension. Damage causes fluent aphasia where speech is produced easily but lacks meaning. Speech production remains intact, unlike Broca's aphasia. Details here.
What process describes the neuron's inability to fire another action potential immediately after one has occurred?
Threshold
Repolarization
Refractory period
Depolarization
The refractory period follows an action potential when sodium channels are inactivated and the neuron cannot fire again. This ensures unidirectional impulse travel and limits firing frequency. Depolarization and repolarization describe phases of the action potential itself. See more.
Saltatory conduction occurs when action potentials jump between:
Synapses
Nodes of Ranvier
Cell bodies
Dendritic spines
In myelinated axons, action potentials leap from one Node of Ranvier to the next, speeding transmission. This is called saltatory conduction. Synapses are gaps between neurons, and dendritic spines receive inputs. Learn more.
SSRIs inhibit the serotonin transporter, preventing reuptake into the presynaptic neuron and increasing serotonin availability. They do not destroy neurotransmitters or act on GABA or dopamine receptors. This mechanism is commonly used to treat depression. More info.
The mesolimbic dopamine pathway is most associated with:
Fear processing
Sleep-wake cycle
Reward and pleasure
Pain regulation
The mesolimbic pathway connects the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and is central to reward, motivation, and pleasure. Dysregulation is implicated in addiction. Other pathways handle fear, pain, and sleep regulation. Details here.
Unlike CT scans, MRI uses:
Magnetic fields and radio waves
X-rays
Sound waves
Electrical activity
MRI employs strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to align and then detect hydrogen atom responses, producing high-resolution images. CT uses X-rays. Ultrasound uses sound waves, and EEG records electrical brain activity. Learn more.
Split-brain studies by Sperry demonstrated lateralization because:
Myelin loss impairs speed
Brainstem damage stops breathing
Each hemisphere has specialized functions
Synapse blocking stops conduction
Sperry's split-brain patients showed that the left hemisphere is specialized for language, while the right excels in spatial tasks. Severing the corpus callosum prevented interhemispheric communication, highlighting lateralization. Other options describe different phenomena. See study.
The pineal gland secretes:
Cortisol
Dopamine
Melatonin
Insulin
The pineal gland produces melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles according to light-dark cues. Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands, insulin by the pancreas, and dopamine by various brain regions. More info.
Long-term potentiation is best described as:
Hormonal feedback to the brain
Neuron death from overuse
Strengthening of synapses through repeated stimulation
Myelin regeneration process
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength following high-frequency stimulation. It is considered a cellular mechanism for learning and memory. It does not involve cell death or myelin repair. Learn more.
Optogenetics allows researchers to:
Measure hormone levels
Visualize brain structures in real time
Stimulate neurons electrically
Control neuron activity with light
Optogenetics uses light-sensitive proteins to selectively activate or inhibit neurons with light pulses. This method provides millisecond-scale control over neural circuits. Electrical stimulation and imaging are different techniques. See details.
Epigenetic modifications can influence neural development by:
Altering gene expression without changing DNA sequence
Mutating neuronal DNA directly
Destroying existing synapses
Inhibiting all action potentials
Epigenetic changes like DNA methylation and histone modification regulate gene expression during brain development. They do not mutate DNA or destroy synapses directly. These tags can be influenced by environment and experience. Learn more.
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Study Outcomes
Identify Key Neurotransmitters -
Review major neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and endorphins and their roles in neural communication.
Explain Neural Impulse Processes -
Describe the steps of action potential transmission including depolarization, repolarization, and refractory periods.
Analyze Brain Mapping Techniques -
Differentiate between EEG, PET, and fMRI methods and understand their use in neuroscience research.
Compare Nervous System Structures -
Contrast central and peripheral components and their functions in processing and transmitting neural signals.
Apply Knowledge to Practice Questions -
Tackle unit 3 AP Psychology practice test items with instant scoring to reinforce comprehension and test-taking skills.
Evaluate Learning Gaps -
Use quiz feedback to identify areas of weakness and focus subsequent study sessions effectively.
Cheat Sheet
Action Potentials: All-or-None Firing -
Neurons transmit messages by shifting from a resting potential (~ - 70 mV) to an action potential once membrane threshold (~ - 55 mV) is crossed. The all-or-none law dictates that impulses are either full strength or don't fire, so use the mnemonic "All-or-None = Always ON!" for quick recall (Stanford Neuroscience Institute).
Acetylcholine (ACh) plays a key role in memory encoding and muscle activation, with deficits linked to Alzheimer's disease (Harvard Medical School). Endorphins act as natural painkillers and mood regulators; to remember them, think "E for Endorphins = Euphoria" (National Institute of Mental Health).
Brain Mapping Techniques -
fMRI offers high spatial resolution for tracking blood-oxygen-level changes during cognitive tasks, while EEG provides millisecond temporal precision for neural oscillations (NIH). To ace the ap psychology unit 3 practice test, compare fMRI's static "photo" view to EEG's live "video" feed for exam examples on brain-behavior correlations.
Peripheral Nervous System: Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic -
The sympathetic division triggers "fight or flight" responses (increased heart rate, pupil dilation), whereas the parasympathetic promotes "rest and digest" states (slowed heart rate, digestion) (American Psychological Association). A helpful mnemonic is "S for Stress → Sympathetic, P for Peace → Parasympathetic," which often appears on unit 3 ap psychology practice test items.
Neuroplasticity and Recovery -
Neuroplasticity describes the brain's ability to reorganize neural pathways after injury or learning new skills, following Hebb's rule: "Cells that fire together wire together" (University of California, Berkeley). Emphasize examples of cortical remapping after stroke to boost your confidence on questions about long-term potentiation and neural adaptation.
