Functions of cerebrum MCQs With Answer

Functions of cerebrum MCQs With Answer offer B.Pharm students an essential review of cerebrum functions, cerebral cortex regions, and clinical correlations relevant to pharmacology. These MCQs focus on lobar specializations, Brodmann areas, motor and sensory homunculi, language centers, memory systems, and neurotransmitter pathways tied to drug action. Emphasizing neuropharmacology, blood supply, and lesion syndromes like aphasia or neglect, the set helps connect anatomy with therapeutic implications. Regular practice improves retention, clinical reasoning, and the ability to predict drug effects on cortical circuits—vital for pharmacy exams and patient care. ‘Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.’

Q1. Which cortical area is primarily responsible for voluntary motor control of skeletal muscles?

• Primary somatosensory cortex
• Primary motor cortex
• Prefrontal cortex
• Wernicke’s area

Correct Answer: Primary motor cortex

Q2. The somatotopic map of the body on the precentral gyrus is called the:

• Visual field map
• Motor homunculus
• Auditory cortex
• Broca’s map

Correct Answer: Motor homunculus

Q3. Damage to Broca’s area typically produces which clinical syndrome?

• Receptive aphasia
• Expressive aphasia
• Prosopagnosia
• Ataxia

Correct Answer: Expressive aphasia

Q4. Which lobe of the cerebrum is most involved in visual processing?

• Frontal lobe
• Parietal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Occipital lobe

Correct Answer: Occipital lobe

Q5. The primary somatosensory cortex is located in which gyrus?

• Precentral gyrus
• Postcentral gyrus
• Superior temporal gyrus
• Angular gyrus

Correct Answer: Postcentral gyrus

Q6. Which cortical area is essential for language comprehension?

• Broca’s area
• Wernicke’s area
• Primary motor cortex
• Insular cortex

Correct Answer: Wernicke’s area

Q7. The corpus callosum primarily functions to:

• Connect cortex to thalamus
• Link the two cerebral hemispheres
• Control autonomic functions
• Anchor meninges to skull

Correct Answer: Link the two cerebral hemispheres

Q8. Which neurotransmitter system in the cerebrum is most associated with attention and arousal?

• Serotonergic system
• GABAergic system
• Noradrenergic system
• Dopaminergic system

Correct Answer: Noradrenergic system

Q9. Brodmann area 4 corresponds to which functional region?

• Primary visual cortex
• Primary motor cortex
• Primary auditory cortex
• Prefrontal association cortex

Correct Answer: Primary motor cortex

Q10. Long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular mechanism of memory, is most studied in which cerebral structure?

• Caudate nucleus
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala
• Primary somatosensory cortex

Correct Answer: Hippocampus

Q11. A lesion in the right parietal lobe may cause which deficit?

• Left visual field loss
• Right-sided neglect
• Left-sided neglect
• Expressive aphasia

Correct Answer: Left-sided neglect

Q12. The primary auditory cortex is located in which lobe?

• Frontal lobe
• Occipital lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Parietal lobe

Correct Answer: Temporal lobe

Q13. Which area is crucial for executive functions such as planning and decision-making?

• Orbitofrontal cortex
• Primary visual cortex
• Prefrontal cortex
• Primary motor cortex

Correct Answer: Prefrontal cortex

Q14. The cortical area that integrates sensory information for spatial orientation and attention is mainly in the:

• Temporal cortex
• Parietal association cortex
• Occipital association cortex
• Insular cortex

Correct Answer: Parietal association cortex

Q15. Which artery most commonly supplies the lateral surface of the cerebrum including Broca and Wernicke areas?

• Anterior cerebral artery
• Middle cerebral artery
• Posterior cerebral artery
• Basilar artery

Correct Answer: Middle cerebral artery

Q16. Damage to the primary visual cortex causes:

• Auditory hallucinations
• Cortical blindness
• Anosmia
• Motor weakness

Correct Answer: Cortical blindness

Q17. The limbic components in the medial temporal lobe are most involved in:

• Language production
• Emotional processing and memory
• Somatic motor control
• Visual discrimination

Correct Answer: Emotional processing and memory

Q18. Which cortical neurotransmitter is the main excitatory transmitter in the cerebrum?

• GABA
• Glycine
• Glutamate
• Serotonin

Correct Answer: Glutamate

Q19. The primary role of association cortex is to:

• Execute simple reflexes
• Integrate multiple types of information for complex tasks
• Transmit signals to spinal cord only
• Produce CSF

Correct Answer: Integrate multiple types of information for complex tasks

Q20. Which cortical area would most likely be affected in a patient with inability to recognize faces?

• Primary visual cortex
• Fusiform face area
• Primary auditory cortex
• Somatosensory cortex

Correct Answer: Fusiform face area

Q21. The term “cortical plasticity” refers to:

• Structural rigidity of cortical layers
• Ability of cortex to reorganize and form new connections
• Degeneration of white matter tracts
• Loss of blood-brain barrier function

Correct Answer: Ability of cortex to reorganize and form new connections

Q22. Which cells are the principal projection neurons in the cerebral cortex?

• Granule (stellate) cells
• Pyramidal cells
• Microglia
• Oligodendrocytes

Correct Answer: Pyramidal cells

Q23. An infarct in the anterior cerebral artery territory commonly causes:

• Contralateral lower limb weakness more than upper limb
• Contralateral facial paralysis only
• Bilateral visual loss
• Pure sensory loss of the face

Correct Answer: Contralateral lower limb weakness more than upper limb

Q24. Which cortical area is primarily involved in planning and sequencing of complex movements?

• Primary auditory cortex
• Supplementary motor area
• Primary somatosensory cortex
• Visual association cortex

Correct Answer: Supplementary motor area

Q25. The concept of lateralization of function means:

• Each hemisphere contains identical functions
• Certain functions are predominantly processed in one hemisphere
• Only the left hemisphere is functional
• Functions switch hemispheres daily

Correct Answer: Certain functions are predominantly processed in one hemisphere

Q26. The primary cortical target for thalamic relay nuclei is:

• Basal ganglia
• Cerebellum
• Cortex (specific cortical areas)
• Spinal cord

Correct Answer: Cortex (specific cortical areas)

Q27. Damage to the arcuate fasciculus most commonly causes which deficit?

• Loss of primary motor function
• Conduction aphasia (impaired repetition)
• Visual agnosia
• Ataxia

Correct Answer: Conduction aphasia (impaired repetition)

Q28. The primary role of the precentral gyrus is:

• Sensory perception
• Motor command initiation
• Auditory processing
• Language comprehension

Correct Answer: Motor command initiation

Q29. Which cortical area is most implicated in inhibitory control and behavioral regulation?

• Primary visual cortex
• Orbitofrontal cortex
• Primary motor cortex
• Auditory association cortex

Correct Answer: Orbitofrontal cortex

Q30. Which statement best reflects the role of the basal ganglia in relation to the cerebrum?

• Basal ganglia generate sensory perception
• Basal ganglia modulate cortical motor plans and facilitate smooth movement
• Basal ganglia are equivalent to the cerebellum
• Basal ganglia control only autonomic functions

Correct Answer: Basal ganglia modulate cortical motor plans and facilitate smooth movement

Q31. Which neurotransmitter from cortical interneurons primarily mediates inhibition?

• Glutamate
• Dopamine
• GABA
• ACh

Correct Answer: GABA

Q32. Which cortical lesion would most likely cause difficulty with object naming (anomia)?

• Damage to Broca’s area
• Damage to inferior temporal/semantic association cortex
• Lesion in primary motor cortex
• Lesion in cerebellum

Correct Answer: Damage to inferior temporal/semantic association cortex

Q33. The cortical area responsible for perception of taste is located in the:

• Insular cortex and adjacent frontal operculum
• Primary visual cortex
• Primary somatosensory cortex
• Broca’s area

Correct Answer: Insular cortex and adjacent frontal operculum

Q34. A patient has alexia without agraphia (cannot read but can write). Which area is likely damaged?

• Left inferior frontal cortex
• Left occipital cortex and splenium of corpus callosum
• Right parietal lobe
• Primary auditory cortex

Correct Answer: Left occipital cortex and splenium of corpus callosum

Q35. Which layer of the cerebral cortex contains large pyramidal neurons that project to the spinal cord?

• Layer I (molecular layer)
• Layer V (internal pyramidal layer)
• Layer II (external granular layer)
• Layer IV (internal granular layer)

Correct Answer: Layer V (internal pyramidal layer)

Q36. Which process best describes how antipsychotic drugs affecting cortical dopamine pathways may improve psychosis?

• Enhancement of cortical glutamate release
• Blockade of cortical dopaminergic D2 receptors reducing hyperactivity in limbic-cortical circuits
• Activation of GABAergic neurons to increase excitation
• Inhibition of serotonin synthesis only

Correct Answer: Blockade of cortical dopaminergic D2 receptors reducing hyperactivity in limbic-cortical circuits

Q37. The medial prefrontal cortex is most associated with:

• Primary motor execution
• Social cognition and decision-making
• Primary visual processing
• Auditory discrimination

Correct Answer: Social cognition and decision-making

Q38. Which cortical area processes proprioceptive and tactile discriminatory information?

• Primary motor cortex
• Primary somatosensory cortex
• Primary auditory cortex
• Primary olfactory cortex

Correct Answer: Primary somatosensory cortex

Q39. Disruption of which pathway results in contralateral hemispatial neglect?

• Left occipital optic radiations
• Right parietal cortex attentional network
• Corticospinal tract
• Basilar artery perforators only

Correct Answer: Right parietal cortex attentional network

Q40. Which cortical changes are commonly seen with Alzheimer’s disease affecting cerebrum function?

• Selective loss of motor cortex only
• Diffuse cortical atrophy, especially temporal and parietal lobes with hippocampal degeneration
• Hypertrophy of frontal cortex
• Isolated cerebellar degeneration

Correct Answer: Diffuse cortical atrophy, especially temporal and parietal lobes with hippocampal degeneration

Q41. The primary site for language production in most right-handed individuals is located in the:

• Right frontal lobe
• Left frontal lobe (Broca’s area)
• Right temporal lobe
• Occipital lobe

Correct Answer: Left frontal lobe (Broca’s area)

Q42. Which cerebral cortex region is most associated with reward, motivation and addiction pathways?

• Primary visual cortex
• Orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex interacting with limbic system
• Primary auditory cortex
• Primary somatosensory cortex

Correct Answer: Orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex interacting with limbic system

Q43. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over primary motor cortex is primarily used to:

• Measure cortical excitability and map motor representation
• Improve vision
• Reduce hearing loss
• Directly stimulate the spinal cord

Correct Answer: Measure cortical excitability and map motor representation

Q44. Which cortical phenomenon underlies rapid learning and strengthening of synaptic connections?

• Long-term potentiation (LTP)
• Myelination only
• Apoptosis
• Spreading depression

Correct Answer: Long-term potentiation (LTP)

Q45. The angular gyrus is important for which cognitive function?

• Basic motor reflex
• Integration of visual, auditory and somatosensory information for language and calculation
• Primary olfaction
• Balance and coordination

Correct Answer: Integration of visual, auditory and somatosensory information for language and calculation

Q46. Which is a primary cortical effect of benzodiazepines relevant to cerebrum function?

• Enhancement of GABA-A receptor-mediated inhibition leading to sedation and anxiolysis
• Blockade of NMDA receptors only
• Increase in cortical glutamate release causing excitation
• Selective activation of dopaminergic neurons causing euphoria only

Correct Answer: Enhancement of GABA-A receptor-mediated inhibition leading to sedation and anxiolysis

Q47. Which cortical region shows earliest pathology and functional decline in typical Alzheimer’s disease affecting memory?

• Primary motor cortex
• Hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of medial temporal lobe
• Primary auditory cortex
• Occipital lobe

Correct Answer: Hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of medial temporal lobe

Q48. The conduction of pain and temperature from the face is primarily represented in which cortical area?

• Primary visual cortex
• Primary somatosensory cortex (face region)
• Primary auditory cortex
• Insular cortex only

Correct Answer: Primary somatosensory cortex (face region)

Q49. Inhibition of cortical NMDA receptors would most likely affect which cerebral process?

• Basic reflex arcs in spinal cord only
• Synaptic plasticity and memory formation
• Peripheral nerve conduction velocity
• Myelination in white matter

Correct Answer: Synaptic plasticity and memory formation

Q50. Which cortical assessment is best to evaluate expressive language function clinically?

• Sensory threshold testing
• Having the patient name objects and form spontaneous speech
• Pupil reactivity test
• Finger-nose coordination

Correct Answer: Having the patient name objects and form spontaneous speech

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com