APPSC Paper I · Probation Officer Paper II: Psychology · Topic 4

4 APPSC Paper I Physiological Psychology questions with answers

16 questions from APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology question paper with answers and APPSC DPO Psychology Mock 1 with answers. Try each one, then tap Show answer.

Previous-paper questions are as in the original paper. Medha AI wrote the answers and explanations.

4.1Neuron, synapse, neurotransmitters and the nervous systemNotes

  1. Q1 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q32

    Neurons are the _____ units of the brain.

    1. ABody Anatomy
    2. BPart of bones
    3. CPart of body
    4. DInformation processing
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Information processing

    Neurons are the basic units of the nervous system that process and pass on information.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q34, final key

  2. Q2 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q36

    The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the ______.

    1. ABrain and spinal cord
    2. BPeripheral
    3. CTissues
    4. DNorepinephrine
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Brain and spinal cord

    The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q38, final key

  3. Q3 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q105

    Which of the following statement is incorrect about sympathetic nervous system?

    1. AControls the fall of blood sugar
    2. BControls the fall of heart rate
    3. CStrengthens the internal environment
    4. DConserves Energy
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Conserves Energy

    The sympathetic system mobilises energy for fight or flight: it raises blood sugar and heart rate. Conserving energy is the job of the parasympathetic system, so option 4 is the incorrect statement.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q109, final key

  4. Q4 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q37

    Consider the following statements about the cells of the nervous system:

    1. Glial cells support, nourish and insulate neurons.

    2. Interneurons connect sensory and motor neurons within the brain and spinal cord.

    3. The axon usually carries the impulse towards the cell body.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 2 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. 1 and 2 only

    Glial cells support neurons and interneurons link sensory and motor neurons in the CNS. Dendrites carry signals towards the cell body; the axon carries them away.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  5. Q5 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q39

    Which of the following is incorrect about the parasympathetic nervous system?

    1. AIt speeds up the heart rate
    2. BIt stimulates digestion
    3. CIt constricts the pupils
    4. DIt helps the body conserve energy
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. It speeds up the heart rate

    The parasympathetic division calms the body: slows the heart, constricts the pupils and stimulates digestion.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  6. Q6 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q41

    The brief period just after an action potential, during which a neuron cannot fire again however strong the stimulus, is called the

    1. Aresting potential
    2. Brelative refractory period
    3. Cabsolute refractory period
    4. Dsynaptic delay
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. absolute refractory period

    Right after firing, the neuron passes through an absolute refractory period (no firing possible) and then a relative one (firing needs a stronger stimulus).

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  7. Q7 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q43

    Neurons that carry messages from the sense organs to the brain and spinal cord are called

    1. AMotor (efferent) neurons
    2. BInterneurons
    3. CGlial cells
    4. DSensory (afferent) neurons
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Sensory (afferent) neurons

    Sensory (afferent) neurons bring information in; motor (efferent) neurons send commands out.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

4.1Brain structures, hemispheric specialisation and the endocrine systemNotes

  1. Q8 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q33

    _____ plays a role in social recognition, bonding, and sexual reproduction.

    1. AEndorphins
    2. BOxytocin
    3. CEpinephrine
    4. DNorepinephrine
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Oxytocin

    Oxytocin is involved in social recognition, bonding (pair and mother-infant) and reproduction.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q35, final key

  2. Q9 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q34

    ______ refers differential role of the left or right brain side in processing a specific neuronal task or behavior.

    1. ASymmetric
    2. BHemispheric specialization
    3. CMotor
    4. DBody
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Hemispheric specialization

    Hemispheric specialisation (lateralisation) means that the left and right hemispheres play different roles in particular tasks.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q36, final key

  3. Q10 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q35

    Each hemisphere is responsible for ______.

    1. ADifferent function
    2. BSame Function
    3. COne Function
    4. DLocal Function
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Different function

    The two hemispheres specialise, so each handles different functions, for example language mostly in the left.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q37, final key

  4. Q11 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q37

    The Endocrine system controls some bodily functions which are -

    1. Athyroid
    2. Bmetabolism
    3. Cthymus
    4. Dpineal
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. metabolism

    The endocrine system controls bodily functions such as metabolism, growth and reproduction through hormones; the other options are glands, not functions.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q39, final key

  5. Q12 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q38

    Hemi sphericity is cerebral dominance of an individual and it has processing modes of information -

    1. ALearning and thinking
    2. BMeasuring emotions
    3. CCritical thinking
    4. DDevelopment
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Learning and thinking

    Hemisphericity is a person's tendency to rely more on one hemisphere; it describes preferred modes of processing information in learning and thinking.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q40, final key

  6. Q13 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q38

    Consider the following statements about the limbic system:

    1. It includes the hippocampus, the amygdala and the hypothalamus.

    2. It is mainly concerned with emotion, motivation and memory.

    3. The cerebellum is one of its main parts.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1, 2 and 3
    4. D1 and 2 only
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. 1 and 2 only

    The limbic system is a ring of forebrain structures (hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus and related areas) concerned with emotion, motivation and memory. The cerebellum belongs to the hindbrain.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  7. Q14 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q40

    Insulin, which lowers the level of sugar in the blood, is secreted by the:

    1. APancreas
    2. BThyroid gland
    3. CAdrenal cortex
    4. DPineal gland
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Pancreas

    Insulin from the pancreas helps cells take up glucose; its deficiency causes diabetes mellitus.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  8. Q15 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q42

    Damage to the motor area of the left hemisphere usually causes paralysis on the right side of the body. This is because:

    1. AThe left hemisphere controls both sides of the body
    2. BEach hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body
    3. CThe corpus callosum is damaged at the same time
    4. DThe cerebellum controls the right side
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body

    Contralateral control: most motor and sensory nerve fibres cross to the opposite side (largely in the brainstem and spinal cord), so the left hemisphere controls and receives sensations from the right side of the body, and vice versa.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  9. Q16 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q44

    The hormone that rises in darkness and helps regulate the sleep-wake (circadian) cycle is:

    1. ACortisol, from the adrenal cortex
    2. BMelatonin, from the pineal gland
    3. CThyroxine, from the thyroid gland
    4. DGrowth hormone, from the pituitary
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Melatonin, from the pineal gland

    Melatonin from the pineal gland is released in response to darkness and signals the body that it is time to sleep.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

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