CNS models: behavioral tests and muscle coordination assays MCQs With Answer

CNS models: behavioral tests and muscle coordination assays MCQs With Answer

This quiz collection is designed for M.Pharm students to reinforce understanding of central nervous system (CNS) screening models, focusing on behavioral paradigms and muscle coordination assays used in preclinical pharmacology. The questions cover principles, protocols, measured endpoints, interpretation of results, common confounders, species and strain considerations, and examples of drug effects. Each MCQ emphasizes conceptual depth and practical relevance for experimental design and data analysis in pharmacological and toxicological screening. Use these questions to evaluate readiness for designing studies, choosing appropriate assays, and interpreting behavioral and motor outcomes in CNS drug development.

Q1. In the open field test, which primary parameter is most commonly used as an index of general locomotor activity?

• Total distance traveled
• Time spent in center
• Number of rears
• Latency to first movement

Correct Answer: Total distance traveled

Q2. Which behavior in the elevated plus maze is interpreted as an anxiolytic-like effect?

• Increased time spent in closed arms
• Increased time spent in open arms
• Decreased number of head-dips
• Increased grooming in closed arms

Correct Answer: Increased time spent in open arms

Q3. The forced swim test primarily assesses which pharmacological domain?

• Anxiety-related behavior
• Antipsychotic efficacy
• Antidepressant-like activity
• Spatial learning

Correct Answer: Antidepressant-like activity

Q4. In a rotarod test, what does a reduced latency to fall typically indicate?

• Improved cognitive function
• Enhanced endurance
• Impaired motor coordination or balance
• Increased exploratory drive

Correct Answer: Impaired motor coordination or balance

Q5. Which of the following is a key advantage of the beam walk assay over the rotarod for detecting subtle motor deficits?

• Requires less training time for rodents
• Is less sensitive to sedation effects
• Better detects fine paw placement and balance errors
• Does not require motivation or goal-directed movement

Correct Answer: Better detects fine paw placement and balance errors

Q6. In the tail suspension test, decreased immobility is commonly interpreted as:

• Pro-depressant effect
• Anxiogenic-like behavior
• Antidepressant-like effect
• Motor impairment

Correct Answer: Antidepressant-like effect

Q7. Which control is most important to distinguish sedative effects from anxiolytic effects in behavioral assays?

• Using animals of a different strain
• Measuring locomotor activity in an open field
• Switching testing time from day to night
• Including both sexes in the study

Correct Answer: Measuring locomotor activity in an open field

Q8. Grip strength measurement is primarily used to assess which endpoint?

• Memory retention
• Neuromuscular function and muscle strength
• Anxiety-like responses
• Nociceptive thresholds

Correct Answer: Neuromuscular function and muscle strength

Q9. Which parameter from gait analysis provides sensitive detection of asymmetric motor deficits?

• Total distance traveled
• Stride length and paw placement symmetry
• Time spent grooming

Correct Answer: Stride length and paw placement symmetry

Q10. In pharmacological validation of an anxiolytic using the elevated T-maze, which drug class is commonly used as a positive control?

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Benzodiazepines
• Antipsychotics
• Cholinesterase inhibitors

Correct Answer: Benzodiazepines

Q11. A study shows decreased rearing and center time in the open field after compound administration. The most likely interpretation is:

• Specific improvement in spatial memory
• Stimulant-induced hyperactivity
• Reduced exploratory behavior possibly due to sedation or anxiety
• Enhanced motor coordination

Correct Answer: Reduced exploratory behavior possibly due to sedation or anxiety

Q12. Which aspect of experimental design reduces inter-animal variability in behavioral testing?

• Randomizing the order of treatments and using adequate acclimation
• Testing only at one fixed time of day without acclimation
• Changing apparatus between trials to avoid habituation
• Using different operators for different groups to prevent bias

Correct Answer: Randomizing the order of treatments and using adequate acclimation

Q13. In the wire hang test, what confounding factor must be considered when interpreting decreased hang time?

• Enhanced cognitive flexibility
• Changes in body weight or motivation affecting suspension ability
• Increased anxiety altering grip style
• Improved nociceptive threshold

Correct Answer: Changes in body weight or motivation affecting suspension ability

Q14. Which behavioral test is most suitable to screen procognitive (memory-enhancing) effects in rodents?

• Open field test
• Morris water maze
• Rotarod
• Tail suspension test

Correct Answer: Morris water maze

Q15. For detecting drug-induced extrapyramidal motor side effects in rodents, which assay is commonly employed?

• Forced swim test
• Apomorphine-induced rotational behavior and catalepsy tests
• Novel object recognition
• Elevated plus maze

Correct Answer: Apomorphine-induced rotational behavior and catalepsy tests

Q16. Why is habituation to the testing apparatus important before recording behavioral endpoints?

• To increase novelty-induced exploratory behavior
• To minimize stress- or novelty-related confounds and stabilize baseline behavior
• To ensure the animal forgets prior training
• To increase variability for statistical detection

Correct Answer: To minimize stress- or novelty-related confounds and stabilize baseline behavior

Q17. In evaluating a putative anticonvulsant’s effect on motor coordination, which outcome would raise safety concerns?

• No change in rotarod performance at therapeutic dose
• Improved rotarod latency at high dose
• Markedly decreased rotarod latency at doses near therapeutic range
• Slight increase in grip strength

Correct Answer: Markedly decreased rotarod latency at doses near therapeutic range

Q18. Which statistical metric is most appropriate to compare latency-to-fall on rotarod across multiple treatment groups?

• Chi-square test for proportions
• One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc comparisons
• Spearman correlation coefficient
• Kaplan-Meier survival analysis only

Correct Answer: One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc comparisons

Q19. Which statement about species and strain selection is most accurate for behavioral pharmacology studies?

• All strains of mice show identical baseline anxiety and motor performance
• Choice of strain and species profoundly affects baseline behavior and drug sensitivity
• Rats are never suitable for rotarod assays
• Species selection is irrelevant if using standardized apparatus

Correct Answer: Choice of strain and species profoundly affects baseline behavior and drug sensitivity

Q20. When interpreting a reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test, which additional measurement helps rule out false positives due to stimulant effects?

• Measuring core body temperature only
• Assessing locomotor activity in an open field to detect stimulant-induced hyperactivity
• Performing elevated plus maze without locomotor assessment
• Measuring food intake during testing

Correct Answer: Assessing locomotor activity in an open field to detect stimulant-induced hyperactivity

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