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Nervous systems — Free MYP4 Biology Practice Questions
1QuestionComparing Nervous and Hormonal ControlConcept Practice
2 marks~3 minCriterion D
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that signals cells to absorb glucose from the blood. Without treatment, blood glucose rises to dangerous levels. Doctors prescribe synthetic human insulin, produced using genetically modified bacteria, which patients self-administer by injection.
a
Explain how synthetic insulin restores hormonal control of blood glucose in a Type 1 diabetic patient. [1]
b
Discuss one limitation or ethical issue associated with insulin therapy. [1]
Solutions
2QuestionCommon disordersAssessment Practice
3 marks~5 minCriterion C
A patient diagnosed with Parkinson's disease had their tremor severity recorded every six months using a scale of 0 to 10.
| Months since diagnosis | 0 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tremor severity (0–10) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
a
Identify the overall trend in tremor severity between 0 and 36 months. [1]
b
Explain how the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra leads to impaired movement control. [1]
c
Analyse how the data support the view that neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease is a continuous, progressive process. [1]
Solutions
3QuestionCentral and Peripheral Nervous SystemConcept Practice
4 marks~6 minCriterion A
The diagram below shows a spinal reflex arc. A pin pricks the skin, generating a nerve impulse that travels through three neurons before reaching a muscle.
a
Identify the four labelled components of the reflex arc shown in the diagram. [2]
b
Explain the sequence of signal transmission from the moment the pin pricks the skin until the muscle responds, describing the role of each component identified in part (a). [2]
Solutions
4QuestionStructure and Function of the Nervous SystemAssessment Practice
5 marks~8 minCriterion C
A researcher hypothesises that spinal reflexes are faster than voluntary responses because they bypass the brain. She measures the patellar reflex time and the hand-squeeze reaction time in 10 healthy adults. The graph shows individual results for both responses.
| Patellar reflex times | approximately 0.02–0.03 s | low variability. |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-squeeze reaction times | approximately 0.15–0.25 s | high variability. |
a
Describe the neural pathway for the patellar reflex. [1]
b
Explain why the hand-squeeze reaction time is longer and more variable than the patellar reflex time, referring to the neural pathway of each response. [2]
c
Evaluate the extent to which the data supports the researcher's hypothesis. [2]
Solutions
5QuestionCentral and Peripheral Nervous SystemAssessment Practice
8 marks~12 minCriterion D
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are implanted devices that record neural signals from the motor cortex and translate them into commands controlling external devices such as robotic limbs. For patients with paralysis, BCIs can restore environmental control. However, long-term BCI use can cause cortical remapping: motor and somatosensory areas reorganize to prioritize the BCI-controlled device over natural limb movements. Manufacturing BCIs requires rare earth metals, and removed or obsolete implants enter the electronic waste stream.
a
Explain how neural plasticity underlies cortical remapping during BCI use, and discuss the potential loss of natural neural function. [3]
b
Analyse one societal consequence of increased patient dependency on BCI technology. [2]
c
Evaluate the environmental impact of implanted BCI devices, considering both their production and disposal phases. [2]
d
Discuss one limitation of current knowledge of neural plasticity that reduces confidence in predicting the long-term effects of BCI use. [1]
Solutions
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