Psychotic disorders: hypofrontality: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Psychotic disorders: hypofrontality

Sample item

A functional imaging study asks patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls to perform a card-sorting task that needs set shifting. Which finding is typical in the patients?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Reduced dorsolateral prefrontal activation

Patients with schizophrenia show hypofrontality, meaning reduced activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during tasks of executive function such as the Wisconsin card sorting test. This fits with the mesocortical hypodopaminergic account of negative and cognitive symptoms.

Option by option

  • A. Increased cerebellar vermis activation

    Cerebellar vermis activation is not the characteristic finding in this paradigm.

  • B. Increased dorsolateral prefrontal activation

    Increased prefrontal activation is the opposite of the reported pattern.

  • C. Reduced occipital activation

    Occipital activation is not the abnormality found in schizophrenia on executive tasks.

  • D. Reduced dorsolateral prefrontal activation (correct)

    Correct. Reduced dorsolateral prefrontal activation during executive tasks is the classic hypofrontality finding.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Reduced dorsolateral prefrontal activation. Patients with schizophrenia show hypofrontality, meaning reduced activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during tasks of executive function such as the Wisconsin card sorting test.

Why is "Increased cerebellar vermis activation" not the answer?

Cerebellar vermis activation is not the characteristic finding in this paradigm.

Why is "Increased dorsolateral prefrontal activation" not the answer?

Increased prefrontal activation is the opposite of the reported pattern.

Why is "Reduced occipital activation" not the answer?

Occipital activation is not the abnormality found in schizophrenia on executive tasks.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychotic disorders: hypofrontality in Psychiatry. This fits with the mesocortical hypodopaminergic account of negative and cognitive symptoms.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Psychotic disorders: hypofrontality?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.